The search continues, and with it the debate, for the mother bear that attacked a mushroom picker who came between her and her cubs in northern Italy's Dolomites on Ferragosto day.
Daniza is an 18-year-old bear who is part of the Life Ursus program, which reintroduced 10 brown bears to the northern area of Trentino, near Italy's borders with Switzerland and Austria, about 20 years ago after bears had been driven out of the forested region.
Daniza is fitted with a tracking device that should make it possible to find her, although so far she hasn’t been tracked as bears can move up to 50 kilometers in a day. In the meantime, the mushroom picker has been released from hospital with cuts and scratches to his arms and legs.
The search for Daniza has been sparking controversy, with some calling for the bear to be captured and even suppressed, and others defending her, saying she simply acted instinctively to protect her cubs by scaring the intruder.
Representatives from the Ministry of the Environment say the bear should be confined in captivity in a special fenced area because, after two attacks, she poses a threat (two years ago she scared a group of hikers when she crossed paths with them – on that occasion too she was with her cubs). At the same time, they believe the cubs should be left free as they think they are old enough to survive on their own, food is abundant in the area and winters are not too rigid.
The Life Ursus program itself has been controversial, with some local farmers and herders complaining that the bears are a threat.
The social media world of course is weighing in and leaning in favor of Daniza to remain free. A Facebook page has been set up with more than 13,000 people supporting the cause Salviamo l’orsa Daniza (Let’s save Daniza).
