Man and bear: a possible coexistence? The zoologist Bressi: “Let’s rely on science, not on feelings”

Depending on species of bears and of the attitude of the residents in the territories in which they are present, it may be possible the coexistence between man and plantigrades? Some researchers have wondered Wisdom of Rome which, in collaboration with Spanish experts and the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molisepublished an analysis in the scientific journal Journal for Nature Conservations, arguing that certain characteristics make coexistence possible between Marsican men and bears. The latter, it should be remembered, are fewer in number than those of the Alpine arc (about 50), smaller in size and genetically different.

According to the authors, the key to cohabitation with the Marsicans must be found where it is present in the “very positive attitude towards the bear and a tolerance towards it that has no equal, neither in Italy nor elsewhere in Europe” the researchers claim. The collaboration between all the actors who live in the areas frequented by the Marsicans, such as the residents, foresters, park rangers, breeders and hunters according to scholars is therefore crucial for the coexistence and the storage. The authors also suggest the “need to resort to forms of collaboration, planning and management sharing closer with the various stakeholders, in order to promote greater involvement and sense of social responsability“.

“The time is ripe for promote a sense of collective responsibility towards the species that can no longer be seen as an exclusively institutional prerogative and a constraint for local communities. Only through a socially shared responsibility would individual behaviors that put the bear’s safety at risk (excessive speed on the roads, incompatible zootechnical practices, the illegal use of poison) be considered morally unacceptable” he says for example Paolo Ciucci of Sapienza, coordinator of the study.

So in Italy there is a place where, unlike the bears present in the Alps, there is a greater chance of coexistence? We asked the zoologist and naturalist Nicholas Bressi.

“Personally – explains Bressi – I believe that the realities of Park of Abruzzo and those of the Trentino are very different and difficult to compare. The Marsican bear is smaller and more docile and cases of aggression are very rare. There could be a few more chances, but we need to observe in detail passages of research that don’t always coincide with this vision”.

For example “the study in question says something interesting: if it is true that it points out how unlike Trentino in Abruzzo there is a great willingness and acquiescence of the population towards bears for a possible coexistence, at the same time the categories most interested in live with it as hunters and breeders, while accepting the presence of the animals, when asked if they would change their grazing and hunting habits to live better with bears, 63% answered no. Therefore, reality is often different from intentions. another important fact underlined by the research is that they rightly say that it is hoped that this attitude of people will be able to isolate the poaching and thepoisoning that still exists in those areas”.

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Obviously, there is then a question of numbers to keep in mind, which also implies the state of health of the species. In Trentino the number of bears has gone from 10 to 100 in twenty years, while in Abruzzo there are less and less and there are around 50 specimens.

Furthermore, Bressi recalls, “in Abruzzo there has perhaps been only one attack in the last 20 years, therefore residents here see episodes of this kind as exceptional, while in Trentino – in addition to the last fatal case – there have already been many hospitalizations hospitals for example due to impairments after an encounter with the plantigrades. The fact that something happens to the locals changes the perception completely and is a reason for further difficult coexistence”.

So, from the Alps to the Maiella, what should be the tool for human-bear cohabitation? “Simple, science – explains Bressi -. In Italy we have little faith in science. I speak to Croatian, Slovenian and Slovak colleagues: there are no problems with them, no ministerial procedures are needed to manage a confident bear if it becomes problematic. If it report a bear with problems, first try to scare it away, if it is a repeat offender the protocol says that it must be killed. The end. There may be contrary opinions, but management must be done by zoologists, not by people’s comments. All countries where there is coexistence with bears, from Canada to Japan, have not found different ideas than passing in cases of difficulty for removal. With us, however, opinion becomes management, and this does not work”.

If Bressi agrees that empowering residents can help, he remembers however that to live with wild animals it is necessary to get out of the “feelings only for the cutest animals” syndrome. “In Trentino – he adds – 4,000 deer, completely innocent “bambis”, are hunted every year. Considering that the alpine bear is not endangered, unlike the Marsican one, the alpine bear and the deer are in the same category : why does no one protest over 4,000 deer and tourists go to eat deer tagliatelle, while the world falls over two bears?As a zoologist who loves all animals, I can’t understand this, except that we reason only out of feelings, but there is scientific part”.

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Finally, concludes the naturalist, it should be remembered that conflicts between men and wild animals will increase in the coming years. “To be able to coexist, however, we cannot reason with feelings, but we must rely on science. This applies to bears of any species, though wolves, boars, deer and so on. Feelings have to be put aside, otherwise it’s not science. The former serve to have respect for Nature, the latter for management. Let us always remember that in Slovenia the population lives with a thousand bears: there the species is very healthy and cohabits with the residents. Yet there the bear is hunted and eaten, it is managed more or less as we do with the deer. To some it may appear brutal, but from a management point of view it works.”