A female bear known as Amarena, who belonged to a rare subspecies of brown bears native to central Italy, was shot dead by a local resident of San Benedetto dei Marsi, a town just outside the Abruzzo National Park. The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, has sparked outrage and investigation by animal rights groups and authorities.
Amarena was one of about 60 Marsican brown bears that live in the Abruzzo National Park and its surrounding areas. The bears are protected by law and considered a symbol of the region. Amarena was also the mother of Juan Carrito, a cub who made international headlines in 2021 when he broke into a local bakery and devoured hundreds of biscuits.
The man who shot Amarena, a 56-year-old farmer, told the police that he acted out of fear and did not intend to kill the bear. He said he found the bear inside his property and fired a single shot with his hunting rifle. The park veterinarian and the emergency team arrived at the scene but could only confirm the death of the bear due to the severity of the wound.
The killing of Amarena is a serious crime and a huge loss for the Marsican bear population
The killing of Amarena is being investigated as a serious crime by the prosecutor’s office in Avezzano. According to the Italian penal code, killing an animal without warrant is punishable by four months to two years in prison. The prosecutor, Maurizio Maria Cerrato, said that there was no evidence of self-defense or imminent danger from the bear.
The park authorities also condemned the killing of Amarena as a very serious episode that causes enormous damage to the Marsican bear population. They said that Amarena was one of the most prolific females in the history of the park, having given birth to seven cubs in three litters. Her current young cubs were found following a search late Thursday and are being cared for by the park staff.
The environmental groups WWF and Legambiente expressed their sorrow and anger over the death of Amarena and demanded justice for her and her cubs. They also called for more measures to prevent human-bear conflicts and to protect the habitat of the Marsican bears.
Amarena’s death is not an isolated case of human-bear violence in Italy
Amarena’s death is not an isolated case of human-bear violence in Italy. In April this year, another Marsican bear was killed by a car near Pescasseroli, a town in Abruzzo. In 2021, Amarena’s famous biscuit-stealing cub Juan Carrito died after being hit by a car near Villavallelonga, another town in Abruzzo.
In northern Italy, where another subspecies of brown bears lives, there have been several cases of bears attacking humans or livestock. In July this year, a 17-year-old bear that killed a 26-year-old jogger was sentenced to death by the authorities in Trento. The bear was later captured and spared from euthanasia after public outcry and legal appeals.
The coexistence between humans and bears is a complex and delicate issue that requires constant monitoring, education, and cooperation. The Marsican bears are an invaluable part of Italy’s natural heritage and biodiversity, and their survival depends on the respect and responsibility of all stakeholders involved.