Outrage in Italy as a mother bear is shot dead, leaving her cubs to fend for themselves

ROME, Sept 1 (Reuters) – The death of a mother bear shot near a national park in central Italy, leaving two cubs to fend for themselves, has drawn condemnation from animal rights groups and politicians.

The bear was killed late Thursday on the outskirts of the town of San Benedetto dei Marsi, the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park reported on Facebook on Friday, also posting an image that circulated widely on social media.

Police have identified the suspected shooter, he added.

It was not clear why the bear was shot, but hunting bears is illegal in Italy.

According to a video, the bear was seen a few days ago in a nearby town with her two cubs. She was known as “Amarena” (black cherry), named after the fruit she ate.

The National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise is home to around 50 brown bears, a species found in central Italy.

The uproar over the bear shooting follows a discussion about an incident in April when a bear killed a 26 year old runner in northern Italy.

The death sparked a legal battle between local authorities, who want to kill the bear and another considered dangerous, and environmental groups who want to save them.

On Friday, animal rights group Lav called Amarena a “victim of the national climate of hatred” towards wild animals, saying it was fueled by politicians.

However, his death was mourned by local and national authorities, including the Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin.

The National Park president, Luciano Sammarone, was quoted by the newspaper La Repubblica that the bear had crossed a private fence, but had no history of attacking humans.

“I find it hard to believe that (they killed her) in self-defense,” he said, adding that he would await the outcome of the investigations.

Green Party leader Angelo Bonelli said park rangers were looking for the bear’s two cubs and there were fears for their survival.

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