Romania lifts bear hunt ban

481 will be killed this year, making even more orphans.

At a bear sanctuary in the heart of Romania's Carpathians, several cubs believed to have been orphaned have just arrived.

The centre fears more will need shelter now the country has authorised the hunting of this protected species, effectively overturning a 2016 ban.

"They come from the forest where their mother was killed," said Florin Ticusan of the Libearty bear sanctuary.

Ticusan and his team care for 128 brown bears at the sanctuary, the biggest such refuge in the world. Bears are officially protected in Romania. The government estimates there are 8000 of them - the largest population in Europe outside Russia.

But now the European Union country is allowing 481 of the animals to be killed this year. The government argues the bear population is too large and attacks have been increasing.

There was a hunting quota of 220 last year and 140 the year before, but in those instances, the permits came with tight restrictions. Animal welfare and environment activists have voiced alarm about the soaring quotas.