The bears, victims of the curious, are no longer free to live their mating season in peace. The National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise had to close the path that leads dozens of hikers to film the bears in love.
With an ordinance the Park has ordered the closure of the F10 path which climbs to the summit of Monte Marsicano, at an altitude of 2,245 metres, after having noticed that groups of people lurk every day, often accompanied by guides, and then publish videos of the bears they encounter on social media during the mating season.
Chat appointments to see bears
The organization has also collected testimonies of chats between frequenters of the area, where timely information on the times and locations in which to see the bears mating is shared. Many people, accompanied or unaccompanied, climbed to altitude even before dawn, contravening the regulations on the tourist use of the areas.
“We believe that seeing so many videos of bears, like those posted in recent days, is certainly very exciting” reads a note from the Park. “However, we do not understand why no one worries about the annoyance, interference and disturbance caused to these splendid and unique wild animals”.
The closure of the F10 path will remain in force until June 9th, unless an extension is needed for the best protection of the bears.
A puppy found dead
A completely different and more tragic situation is the one that has shaken a locality in Trentino, where an albino bear cub was found dead in a forest above the town of Garniga, on Monte Bondone. The Forestry Corps of the Province of Trento found the puppy after some hikers reported a specimen in difficulty.
“We received the report and went to the scene. The animal was not well – he explained to “T Daily” the director of the Forestry Service, Giovanni Giovannini – but our advice is to stay away so as not to provoke the mothers. The protocol aims to encourage family reunification, so at least as a first intervention it is right to move him from the busy area and let the mother pick him up.”
