On the outskirts of the town of San Sebastiano Dei Marsi in central Italy, a beloved female bear known as Amarena was shot dead. The man responsible for the shooting claimed he acted out of fear, raising questions and igniting widespread outrage, BBC reported.
Amarena had gained local fame and affection for being seen earlier in the week roaming the town with her two cubs. Local governor Marco Marsilio emphasized that no bear in the Abruzzo region had ever posed a danger to residents, making the shooting even more perplexing and tragic. Amarena's death struck a chord in the Abruzzo region, where she was a well-known and cherished presence. She was named after a type of black cherry that she particularly favored, endearing her to the local community.
Governor Marco Marsilio expressed his disbelief and anger on social media, labeling the killing as incomprehensible and a "very grave act against the whole Abruzzo region." Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto echoed these sentiments, describing the incident as "very serious" and emphasizing the need to protect Amarena's two cubs and ensure their freedom.
Amarena was one of approximately 60 critically endangered Marsican bears native to central Italy and residing in the Abruzzo National Park. The national park released a distressing image of Amarena's lifeless body on the ground, revealing that she had been shot outside the park's boundaries, on the outskirts of San Sebastiano dei Marsi.
While Amarena had caused some damage to crops and livestock in the past, there was no justification for her killing, as she had never posed any significant threat to humans, according to the park's statement. The man responsible for the shooting was identified and questioned by local police. He claimed that he had acted out of fear and had not intended to kill the bear. He explained that he found Amarena inside his property and reacted impulsively. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation, with park director Luciano Sammarone expressing doubts about the self-defense claim. The bear had reportedly crossed a private fence, but further investigation is needed to ascertain the exact sequence of events.
Concerns had arisen locally after a video of Amarena and her cubs circulated on social media earlier in the week. This led to an influx of sightseers hoping to catch a glimpse of the bears, potentially contributing to the tragic outcome. As of now, the two bear cubs have not been located, and extensive efforts involving park rangers and police are underway to find them. The death of Amarena has sparked outrage not only over the loss of a beloved bear but also over the issue of individuals carrying weapons and the contentious political climate surrounding large carnivores in Italy.
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