Wild bear evades German hunters

Germany’s only wild brown bear gave hunters the slip yesterday when it wandered into a lakeside resort in Bavaria and sat down in front of a police station before disappearing into the woods.

This is the first wild bear in Germany since 1834. It is believed that the subject bear wandered up from an Italian re-introduction project.

Hunters in the region have failed to track it down, despite multiple sightings. Bruno is the first wild bear known in Germany since 1835 and its arrival has prompted questions about release programmes. The animal is a product of such a scheme in northern Italy to reintroduce brown bears to the wild.

So far the bear is outsmarting the Germans. One wonders whether it is a function of being Italian in origin, or that the Gedrmans are being “buffaloed” by the bear, or what.

Bruno’s appetite has so far accounted for 25 sheep and four goats, as well as many rabbits, hares, chickens and a number of beehives.

At least the bear has a diverse diet, although he is surely NOT appreciated by the areas agriculturalists.