There are already a hundred bears in the Pyrenees: how can they live together?

BarcelonaThe brown bear is one of the last large Pleistocene mammals that has not become extinct, and it is also native to Catalonia. However, in 1973, the Spanish government had to consider it an endangered species, primarily due to poaching. This situation has completely changed: there are now 47 brown bears in the Catalan Pyrenees, leading the Director General of Environmental Policies and the Natural Environment, Marc Vilahur, to declare it an endangered species. says it is necessary to "ensure the coexistence of this species with local communities."

The figure represents exponential growth considering that in 1996, when the reintroduction of the bear in the Pyrenees began, there were only seven. Now, throughout the mountain range—from the Basque Country to Catalonia—ninety-six have been counted, thirteen more than last year. This figure is not definitive, since in 2023, thirteen had been located that were not identified last year, but to consider them low, there must be evidence of death or no indication of them for two years.

The distribution of brown bears in Catalonia

Just as half of the bears in the Pyrenees are found in Catalonia, half of the cubs were born in the mountains of the Principality. In 2023, sixteen cubs were born, eight of them in Catalonia, and this year a total of twenty-two were born, ten of them in the Catalan Pyrenees. Specifically, the specimens are found mainly in the Pallars Sobirà region, although some also live in Alta Ribagorça and Alt Urgell. "The bear population in Catalonia proves to be an inseparable part of the Pyrenees," he states. Vilahur is aware of the effort involved in reintroducing the bear as a symbol of biodiversity and environmental health.

Making bears and livestock compatible

Vilahur asserted that the latest data published on the population and distribution of this species in the region are key to developing coexistence plans, an objective he described as "crucial." "The bear cannot be a problem for local communities, especially for extensive livestock farming," Vilahur asserted, referring to occasional bear attacks on livestock. In this regard, the Director General stated that they plan to work on "pilot projects with smart collars to minimize damage," in addition to the damage prevention programs already in place.