Romania to cull nearly 500 bears after hiker mauled to death

Romania’s parliament on Monday approved the culling of almost 500 bears this year in a bid to control the protected species’ “overpopulation” after a deadly hiker attack sparked nationwide outcry.

Romania is home to Europe’s largest brown bear population outside Russia with 8,000, according to the environment ministry.

Bears have killed 26 people and severely injured 274 others over the past 20 years in the southeastern European country, the ministry said earlier this year.