Italian Authorities Decide to Transfer Bear to German Park
Last Year Court Prevented Shooting... Controversy Both Inside and Outside
A brown bear that was captured after killing a person in a mountainous village in northern Italy will be relocated to a protected area in another region. At the time, there was a fierce debate both inside and outside Italy over whether the bear should be euthanized.
Italy's ANSA news agency reported on the 14th (local time) that the brown bear codenamed ‘JJ4’ will be transferred to the Borvis Alternative Bear Park in Thuringia, central Germany, according to an announcement by the authorities of Trento City in Trentino-Alto Adige, northern Italy.
JJ4 attacked and killed 26-year-old Andrea Papi, who was jogging in a forest near Trento City in April last year. In response, the Trento City authorities lured JJ4 with fruit bait and captured it alive along with two of its three cubs. The cubs were later released after being deemed over two years old and capable of surviving without their mother.
Maurizio Fugatti, the provincial governor, ordered the euthanasia of the captured JJ4, but the court ruled to postpone the killing. JJ4 had a prior record from June 2020 of attacking a father and son simultaneously in a nearby area, injuring them. At that time, the provincial authorities also attempted to euthanize JJ4, but the court blocked the order.
In response, Governor Fugatti expressed his displeasure, stating, “If JJ4 had been euthanized in 2020, Papi would not have died,” and added, “If the court proves that our claim is correct, the bear will be euthanized.”
On the other hand, the animal protection organization LAV welcomed the court’s decision, saying, “Both the bear and the citizens of Trentino have the right to live peacefully.” Animal protection groups declared they would use all possible legal means to protect JJ4 and demanded follow-up measures from Trento City authorities, stating they would even bear the costs to relocate JJ4 and its cubs to another region.
Papi’s family also opposed the euthanasia of JJ4. Papi’s mother said, “It is neither the bear’s fault nor my son’s,” and added, “Killing the bear will not bring my son back.” On social media (SNS), a rescue campaign spread with the hashtag ‘#jj4’, sparking intense debate over whether the bear should be euthanized.
Italy, after the brown bear became extinct in the northern mountainous areas due to indiscriminate hunting, has been implementing a policy since 1999 of importing brown bears from Slovenia and releasing them in the mountainous regions. However, in recent years, several incidents of bears attacking people have occurred, increasing skepticism about coexistence between bears and humans.
Although Papi’s family opposed the euthanasia of JJ4, they announced plans to file a lawsuit against the Italian government and provincial authorities for increasing the brown bear population to an uncontrollable level, which led to the tragedy.
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