The endangered brown bear, which once roamed the forests of Europe, is showing signs of recovery in one of its remaining strongholds, the Cantabrian mountains of Spain.
“We would like to establish a corridor between the separate colonies to increase the bears’ genetic diversity and reproductive velocity, and thereby their chances of survival,” said Guillermo Palomero, head of the Santander-based Brown Bear Foundation (Fundacion Oso Pardo). “That is the only sure way of protecting them from becoming extinct.”
The revival is partly due to more effective control of illegal hunters, or furtivos, who now face two years in jail and a fine of up to €300,000 (£230,000) for the “ecological crime” of killing a bear.
“The turning point was when we realised the importance of groups of females with their young cubs. While the males roam across country, the mother and her cubs stay within a defined area. We must protect them in their habitat, because they are the guarantee of the future,” Palomero continued.