(see related story)
Culling cannot be the only answer to
the problem of coexistence between bears and humans in the
northern autonomous province of Trento said Environment Minister
Gilberto Pichetto on Tuesday in response to the news that an
'overfriendly' bear tagged as M90 had been put down.
"Bear culling cannot be the only alternative," said Pichetto.
"If what has been done so far with the province of Trento has
not been sufficient, the commitment - on the part of everyone -
must be to multiply efforts to find every possible solution to
guarantee peaceful coexistence in the territories," he added.
"I have once again mobilised all the structures under the
auspices of the ministry to draw up a timely strategy in which
culling should really be the extrema ratio," said Pichetto.
On Tuesday Trento Governor Maurizio Fugatti ordered the culling
of M90 on grounds of frequent sighting near homes and built-up
areas and reports that it had deliberately followed people.
Pichetto first intervened on the issue last year amid an outcry
from environmentalists and animal rights groups following an
order - subsequently suspended in the courts - to cull a bear
that killed 26-year-old trail runner Andrea Papi in Trentino in
April.
On that occasion he said 'problematic' animals should be
transferred to a safe place rather than be put down.
He also requested the involvement of animal rights' associations
in drawing up a plan to manage the local bear population in the
area.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
