45 bears endure in Tatra Mountains

Photo: wikipedia

Of these, just 15 inhabit the Polish side of the range, although there are seasonal fluctuations.

“The results show that the number of bears living permanently in the Polish Tatras is not so very great,” reflected Dr Zuzanna Nowak from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW).

“Nevertheless, during the summer, the number doubles because that's when bears prefer to spend their time on our side of the mountains.”

The research was launched in 2012 and ended in November this year, with academics from SGWW working alongside staff from Poland's Tatra National Park.

Fur samples were gathered from traps where bears were lured with bait. Additional samples were taken from places where bears were known to have caused damage, typically at bee-hives.

The research indicated that the bee-hive raids were by and large carried out by one or two males.

“It's a surprising fact that only a few bears – mostly males – specialise in destroying bee-hives,” Dr Nowak commented.

All in all, some 400 fur samples were collected from traps, bee-hives and other sources. From these, scientists found 45 different genetic profiles.

The Tatras are the highest range in the Carpathian Mountains. They are spread across 785 square kilometres, about 610 square kilometres of which are on the Slovakian side, and the remainder are on the Polish side. (nh)

Source: PAP