The bear that killed a runner in the Italian Alps in 2023 has been moved to a reserve in the Black Forest. Previously, the provincial government wanted the animal to be shot dead. But environmental activists have legally put a stop to that.
In May last year, it was already decided that the female bear, also known as JJ4 or Gaia, should be transferred to the German park. But the construction of a new enclosure in that shelter was delayed due to heavy rainfall in the area. As a result, the bear could not move earlier.
She arrived at the reserve early Sunday morning, writes the foundation that campaigned to prevent her death. Her mother, Jurka, also lives in that park.
26-year-old Andrea Papi died in April 2023 while running in the mountainous area near his village of Caldes in the Trentino region. His family raised the alarm when he did not return. A search team then found his body.
The man had deep wounds to his neck, arms and chest. An autopsy revealed that he was attacked by a bear. It was later revealed that it was JJ4 and that she had previously injured a father and son in the same area. Initially, Trentino officials wanted to have her killed, but the animal rights group was able to prevent this with legal action.
An estimated one hundred bears live in northern Italy. In 1999, bears were released from Slovenia as part of an EU program to reintroduce the animals to the Italian Alps. Since the attack on the jogger, the debate about bears in the area has become heated again.