Environment minister Mircea Fechet believes the fines for feeding brown bears on the side of the road should be higher to discourage such behavior. A sanction of RON 1,500 is usually applied, but if paid in at least 48 hours, the amount drops to about RON 200, the minister said.<\/p>\n
Bear sightings are common on the famous Transf\u0103g\u0103r\u0103\u0219an mountain road, especially as the animals got used to tourists giving them food, despite the authorities\u2019 repeated calls to avoid any contact with the wild animals. People stop on the road to take pictures with the brown bears and even feed them, although feeding wild animals is not only dangerous but also prohibited by law.<\/p>\n
Moreover, specialists have warned that this situation also changes the animals\u2019 behavior, as they get used to receiving food from humans, which in turn can be dangerous for their survival in the wild.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegarding the bears on Transf\u0103g\u0103r\u0103\u015fan, I ordered my colleagues to do three things. One targets the installation of warning signs so that every tourist and citizen knows that feeding the bears is prohibited and punishable by a fine. These signs have already been sent to CNAIR and will be installed soon,\u201d minister Fechet said, quoted by News.ro<\/a>.<\/p>\n Video surveillance cameras are also to be installed in the area.<\/p>\n \u201cI found that a significant number of fines have been issued up to three weeks ago. Colleagues from the Forest Guard and the Gendarmerie are on the Transf\u0103g\u0103r\u0103\u015fan and in other places and are trying to explain to people that feeding the bears does nothing but condemn them to death,\u201d Mircea Fechet also said.<\/p>\n