An Italian court has temporarily halted the decision to euthanize a brown bear that was involved in the fatal mauling of a 26-year-old jogger in the Alps back in April, Reuters report. The Rome administrative court, known as the Council of State, suspended the cull order, deeming it disproportionate and unnecessary, while emphasising the need to keep the bear in captivity for public safety.
The bear, named "JJ4," has attracted widespread media attention, with conflicting opinions on its fate. The head of the province of Trento, where the incident occurred, has advocated for the bear's destruction, while animal rights groups have been campaigning for its preservation. However, a final verdict on the bear's future is not expected until a further appeal is heard in December.
The region surrounding Trento has experienced several bear attacks in recent years, prompting concerns about achieving successful coexistence between humans and these mammals. Under an EU-funded program, bears were reintroduced to the area starting from 1999.
JJ4, a 17-year-old female bear, had been previously linked to attacks on two other individuals. The animal rights group LAV expressed satisfaction with the court's ruling, believing it will secure a safe future for the bear. LAV has identified a refuge in Romania and offered to cover the expenses for transferring JJ4 there.
In addition to JJ4, the court's decision also spared another bear, MJ5, which has yet to be captured. MJ5 had also faced a cull order after injuring a man in March.
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