Rome CNN –
The cold-blooded killing of a mother bear named Amarena has angered animal rights groups and local politicians in Italy.
The brown bear was shot by a resident of San Benedetto dei Marsi, just outside the Abruzzo National Park in central Italy, the park confirmed Friday.
Her four-year-old boy, Juan Carrito, made international headlines in 2021 when he broke into a local bakery and devoured hundreds of cookies.
“The park’s veterinarian intervened on site with the emergency team, but due to the severity of the wound they could only determine the bear’s death,” the park said on its Facebook page.
Amerana was a Martian brown bear, an endangered species in Italy, where fewer than 60 of the bears remain. Her murder is being investigated as a serious crime.
The 56-year-old man who shot her was handed over to local police.
“The incident is very serious and causes enormous damage to the population of approximately 60 individuals, affecting one of the most productive females in the history of the park,” the national park statement said.
“Obviously there is no reason to justify the incident as Amarena never caused any problems to the man,” it added.
The prosecutor’s office in Avezzano, led by Maurizio Maria Cerrato, has opened an investigation into the killing, which violates Penal Code 544bis and refers to the cruel killing of an animal without a warrant, the prosecutor’s office told CNN.
If convicted, the man could face prison sentences of between four months and two years.
The man told police he shot the animal “out of fear, but I didn’t want to kill it, I found it on my property. “It was an impulsive, instinctive act,” according to CNN affiliate Sky24.
Amerana’s famous cookie thief cub, Juan Carrito, died earlier this year after being hit by a car. Her current cubs were found during a search late Thursday. They are looked after by the park authorities.
Italy’s Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto called the killing a “serious” matter.
“It needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. I am in constant contact with all institutional actors working to shed light on the matter: maximum coordination is now required between the Ministry, the Regions, the Park Authority, Ispra, Cufa, mayors and prefects. Our commitment also aims to protect the bear cubs and do everything possible to ensure that they remain free.”
Of the 15 bears killed in Italy since 2010, three were killed in Abruzzo.
In April, a 17-year-old bear was sentenced to death in the northern region of Trent for killing a 26-year-old jogger. The bear was granted a stay of execution and was captured.