{"id":30765,"date":"2023-07-18T05:20:15","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T03:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=78406"},"modified":"2023-07-18T07:35:54","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T05:35:54","slug":"photo-story-hungry-bears-in-romania-are-snooping-about-town-looking-for-junk-food","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/photo-story-hungry-bears-in-romania-are-snooping-about-town-looking-for-junk-food\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo story: hungry bears in Romania are snooping about town looking for junk food"},"content":{"rendered":"

As their mountainous forest habitat is depleted, Romania\u2019s brown bears increasingly venture into towns and villages looking for food, bringing them in close contact with local people <\/p>

By David Hup\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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These stunning photographs of brown bears were all taken by Dutch photographers David Hup and Michiel Van Noppen, and document the delicate balance\u00a0 between humans and bears in Romania\u2019s Carpathian Mountains. As more of their forest habitat is depleted, more and more bears are coming into towns and villages to find a meal. Thes epictures tell their story, and that of the Romanian people\u2019s relationship with their ursine neighbours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Trip into town<\/h2>\n
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Brown bears in Romania. \u00a9 David Hup & Michiel Van Noppen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

An old male brown bear sneaks through a broken fence in a Transylvanian village to search this garden for food. Romania\u2019s stretch of the Carpathian Mountains hosts around 6,000 brown bears \u2013 Europe\u2019s largest population outside Russia. As the fragmentation of their forest habitat continues, they increasingly explore urban areas.<\/p>\n

Junk food<\/h2>\n
\""Brown\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Brown bears in Romania. \u00a9 David Hup & Michiel Van Noppen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A furry visitor to a small town in the Carpathians indulges in some dumpster diving, tipping an overloaded bin in the hope of finding something edible. \u201cBears are creatures of habit,\u201d explains photographer David Hup. \u201cFor example, they inspect bins in a specific sequence each night.\u201d<\/p>

Nosy neighbours<\/h2>\n
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A mother bear walks with her cubs on a quiet street in a town in Transylvania. When the night falls, and the streets become quiet, the bears go in search of food. Encouters with locals are frequent. \u00a9 David Hup & Michiel Van Noppen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

A mother leads her cubs through a Transylvanian town, while two people approach their car farther up the street. Urban residents are becoming accustomed to these encounters, which are risky for both species. Bear attacks on humans, usually involving hunters, gamekeepers or shepherds, are increasing and bears are sometimes hit by road vehicles and killed.<\/p>\n

Under the ridge<\/h2>\n
\""Brown\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Brown bears in Romania. \u00a9 David Hup & Michiel Van Noppen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The Bucegi Mountains loom over a small town in the southern Carpathians (left). Bears frequently descend from the peaks\u2019 forested flanks into such towns in search of food, often breaking fences, raiding rubbish bins and destroying crops, leading to conflict with local people.<\/p>\n

Trunk road<\/h2>\n
\""Brown\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Brown bears in Romania. \u00a9 David Hup & Michiel Van Noppen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Logs lie stacked alongside a road in Transylvania \u2013 a common sight throughout the Carpathian Mountains (right). Though nearly one-third of Romania\u2019s land is covered by trees, logging is reducing the brown bear\u2019s natural forest habitat.<\/p>\n

Dance macabre<\/h2>\n
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Brown bears in Romania. \u00a9 David Hup & Michiel Van Noppen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Revellers don skins decorated with bushy, bright-red shoulder tassels for the traditional Bear Dance in Com\u0103ne\u0219ti, on the north-eastern slopes of the Carpathians (above). This ritual is performed in many of the region\u2019s towns and villages during the last days of December to fertilise and purify the soil, chase away evil spirits and welcome the new year.<\/p>\n

Paws for thought<\/h2>\n
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Brown bears in Romania. \u00a9 David Hup & Michiel Van Noppen<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Even young children, such as this blue-eyed girl in One\u0219ti (left), join the dance, despite the weight of the pelts \u2013 up to 50kg. The people here also have to become accustomed to the presence of live bears in their town.<\/p>\n

More about bears:<\/strong><\/p>\n