Romanian President Challenges Law Doubling Bear Culls

Romania's President, Nicușor Dan, has taken a crucial step by challenging the recently passed law that dramatically increases the number of bears eligible for culling. This legal challenge, lodged with the Constitutional Court, underscores a fundamental disagreement over conservation policy and ecological balance. The law, which more than doubles the quota for bear culls from 426 in 2025 to 859 in 2026, is viewed by the President as a disproportionate response that potentially violates European Union directives concerning protected species.

The context for this law is the alarming rise in bear attacks across Romania, particularly in the Carpathian regions. These incidents have led to fatalities and numerous injuries, creating a climate of fear among local populations. Bears, having lost their natural fear of humans, are increasingly venturing into populated areas. Official statistics paint a stark picture: over the last two decades, bear attacks have resulted in 28 deaths and over 270 injuries, highlighting a genuine public safety concern that the government sought to address through this legislative measure.

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a disproportionate measure, unless it is scientifically demonstrated that the brown bear population is excessively large and that there are no other solutions to preserve ecological balance and population safety.

However, the President's office argues that such a drastic increase in culling quotas lacks sufficient scientific justification. While acknowledging the need for ecological balance and public safety, the argument is that the law is "disproportionate" unless proven scientifically that the bear population is excessively large and that no other solutions exist. Furthermore, a key legal point is raised regarding parliamentary overreach; the President's office contends that Parliament exceeded its authority by directly establishing "extraction quotas" (culling quotas) through legislation, a matter they believe falls under the purview of the Ministry of Environment.

Recent studies from Romania's Forest Research and Development Institute estimate the brown bear population to be between 10,419 and 12,770 individuals. This figure is substantially higher than the 4,000 bears experts consider ideal for maintaining ecological equilibrium. This significant overpopulation is seen as the root cause of the increased human-wildlife conflict. The President's challenge, therefore, is not just about the number of bears but about the proper legal and scientific process for managing this complex issue, ensuring that measures taken are both effective and compliant with national and international environmental standards.

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the Parliament exceeded its powers by establishing extraction quotas for animals directly by law, arguing that it is a matter that falls within the scope of the Environment.