The dispute over how to deal with bears in the northern Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige continues to escalate. The latest dispute is caused by the death of 26-year-old jogger Andrea Papi, who was attacked by a bear on April 5 in Caldes in Val di Sole, in the province of Trento.

Matthias Rüb

Political correspondent for Italy, the Vatican, Albania and Malta, based in Rome.

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Examination of the bite and scratch marks on the body suggests that the bear JJ4 was responsible for the fatal attack. On the other hand, a counter-report commissioned by an animal welfare organization concludes that the jogger was attacked by a full-grown male bear. This is indicated by the distance between the canines in the bite wounds.

The president of the province of Trento, Maurizio Fugatti, had released the bear JJ4 (also called Gaia by animal rights activists) for shooting after the fatal incident at the beginning of April. A few days later, however, the bear was taken to a secured game reserve after falling into a trap set up in Val di Sole. JJ4 is a sister of the "problem bear" Bruno, who was killed in Bavaria in 2006 and who had migrated across the Alps from northern Italy and killed farm animals in Bavaria.

Fugatti received a threatening letter

Animal welfare organizations have filed a lawsuit against Fugatti's shooting order. Most recently, on 26 May, the administrative court in Trento ordered the suspension of provincial president Fugatti's decree to shoot down until a final judge's decision, which is expected on 27 June. Recently, a sanctuary in Lower Bavaria agreed to take in the bear JJ4 Gaia. Animal rights activists want to cover the costs of transporting the bear.

Fugatti has been under personal protection since the beginning of this week because there was a cartridge in a threatening letter addressed to him. According to authorities, the letter was sent by militant animal rights activists. Because the letters also mention the names of Fugatti's children, the entire family of the provincial president is under police protection. The president of the neighbouring province of South Tyrol, Arno Kompatscher, declared his solidarity with his counterpart: "These threats are an unacceptable form of violence and a threat to democracy."

Outrage against animal rights activists was also provoked by an incident related to a memorial and solidarity run to be held for the victim Andrea Papi and his bereaved. A person has registered on the list of participants under the name "JJ4".

Daddy's partner Alessia Gregori reacted to the provocation on Facebook: "You have tormented me with every conceivable name, but now I ask you to find an adjective for a person who is capable of such a thing. You extremists should burn in hell!"