Brochures advising how to avoid encounters with bears and what to do in the event of one will also be distributed in high-risk areas over the coming months. A joint project by Balkani and the environment ministry is already distributing free electric fences to beekeepers in Smolyan and the nearby town of Devin.
Vasil Chavdarov from the tiny village of Breze told reporters he was “calmer” now that his beehives were equipped with an electric fence, although he still spoke of the bears with awe.
“I used to sleep here every night for two months, kept a fire and packs of firecrackers to scare the bears away,” said the 78-year-old, who had nine beehives wrecked by bears in four separate attacks over the past years. “I am happy that the bear does not come to do mischief any more.”
“It gives me chills only to mention its name, I cannot imagine meeting it face to face in the forest,” he said.
Meanwhile, local hunters were taking another approach and trying to convince reluctant locals that they could cash in on the bears and boost tourism. Much to the dismay of the locals, the hunters were already advertising pricey observation tours of bears, wild boars, deer and other animals.
However, it will take time to overcome the tension over bears, following the Kutela killing.
“We entertain no illusions that we can defuse the tensions with brochures, especially in regions where people feel threatened,” said Svetlana Alajem, manager of an educational project about bears. “But it is a step in the right direction.”
RSS