''I sincerely hope it won't be torn down.'' So the Minister of the Environment, Gilberto Pichetto, questioned on the sidelines of the table on the drought in the Piedmont Region of the fate of the bear Jj4. "On the captured bear hangs the appeal of the TAR, there is the opinion of Ispra that I saw yesterday and which says that it is also possible to keep it isolated because it is problematic at a high level".

While on Radio Anch'io this morning he said: "From now until May 11 (when the TAR will be pronounced, ed.) We are also looking for transfer solutions." The minister argued that "we must find the place to take the bear" because "we do not give a solution by bringing it down". The minister explained that in any case, since the decision to capture her was taken on the basis of the Consolidated Law on Public Security, the power of decision in this sense lies with the president of the autonomous province of Trento, Maurizio Fugatti. "The issue that made us emerge this very serious episode - said the minister - is that unfortunately there are 120 bears where there should be 40. They were entered with a choice of man, local, made for tourism purposes. And then it got out of hand. They have increased dramatically and now the situation must be brought back to order. It means a transfer and enlargement plan with more territories. The problem exists and everything exists."

Today the ministry is holding a meeting to discuss precisely this, a situation that has become an emergency in Trentino. Animal welfare associations complained that they were not involved in this meeting. While Fugatti has already made it known that he will ask for the transfer or culling of at least 70 specimens.

Insights by Tgr Trento

  • Trento. "We veterinarians will not cause the death of JJ4 by euthanasia"
  • Pat: "JJ4 is in good health and feeds regularly"
  • Relief to Caldes after the capture of JJ4, but fear remains
  • Casteller di Trento: here's where the Jj4 bear was locked up after capture

The European animal rights party presents a second lawsuit against Fugatti


As had already happened with JJ4, the European Animal Welfare Party has filed a second lawsuit against the president of the Province of Trento Maurizio Fugatti, this time for the order to kill MJ5, the 18-year-old bear that attacked 5-year-old Alessandro Cicolini in Val di Rabbi on March 39th.

The hypotheses of crime for which the president of the PAE Stefano Fuccelli presented the second complaint are the same as the first, ie incitement to crime and attempted crime.

According to animal rights activists there would be neither urgency nor need to cull MJ5 and JJ4, given the willingness of the associations to immediately transfer the offending bears elsewhere.

Life Ursus project coordinator: "Knock them down, don't lock them up"

"It is necessary to return to giving space to the scientific approach and technicians. We must also return to networking, among all the actors of the territory, and express a firm, constructive, unanimous position. Culling a dangerous bear should not be taboo, but it cannot be the only possible solution." These are the positions expressed by the president of the Adamello Brenta Natural Park, Walter Ferrazza and, by the head of scientific research and technical coordinator of the Life Ursus project, Andrea Mustoni, during a meeting held with the mayors of the 30 municipalities of the park.

"A launch of the Ansa agency in 2014, which I recovered - said President Ferrazza at the opening of the work - reports my request for capture intervention concerning a dangerous bear. I hoped that the definition of a clear protocol for the management of critical situations that a bear could create would be able to save man and project. 10 years have passed and today more than ever that hope is useful and current and more necessary than ever", added Ferrazza. "The Life Ursus project - said Mustoni - was not a failure, as some claim today, but a huge success, internationally recognized. Life Ursus ended in 2004 and what happened next is not under the umbrella of 'Life' projects as financial instruments of the European Union. Since 2004, management responsibilities have passed to the Autonomous Province of Trento". Mustoni then specified that the project also included the possibility of removing dangerous specimens of bear. "For me - he concluded - removing them means only one thing: tearing them down. Don't lock them up in a fence, a sad situation at all levels."