Based on the opinion of two veterinarians, which the association for the protection of animals LEAL submitted to the administrative court of Trento, the runner Andrea Papi was not killed by JJ4, but by an adult male bear, as can be seen from the DNA of the man’s corpse .
In an official letter, the association for the defense of animals demanded the immediate release of bear JJ4, meanwhile captured. He also demanded the resignation of Trentino Governor Maurizio Fugatti, who has been campaigning for the killing of troublesome bears. Last week, Trento’s administrative court suspended Governor Fugatti’s new decree to kill JJ4 after an appeal by animal rights organisations. For now, the predator must not be sacrificed. A decision on the bear’s future is expected to be made by the Administrative Court on May 25. Animal welfare organizations are calling for the troublesome bear to be moved to Germany or Hungary.
More and more “trouble bears”
On April 5, the runner was found dead on a forest trail in the Trentino municipality of Caldes, in a valley (Val di Sole) frequented by hikers and tourists. According to prior knowledge, a bear that had already attracted attention several times had killed the man. She is the sister of “problem bear” Bruno, shot dead in Bavaria in 2006. After an attack in 2020 the bear should have been killed, a court ruled against the murder. The bear was captured and is currently at an animal sanctuary with another so-called problem bear.
According to the province, the number of bears in the area has increased enormously since the EU project “Life Ursus”. Instead of the planned 50, about 100 wild animals settled.