'So big and so close': going on a bear hunt in northern Spain
Conservationists have helped Cantabrian brown bears claw their way back from the edge of extinction in the beautiful mountains of Asturias – and carefully controlled nature tourism allows visitors to see them
TL;DR
- Cantabrian brown bears in Asturias, Spain, have recovered from near extinction, with numbers possibly reaching 500.
- Conservation efforts, including bio-corridors and a hunting ban since 1973, have been crucial for their regrowth.
- Nature tourism in Somiedo natural park, managed by licensed guides, provides economic benefits and is presented as a sustainable alternative to hunting.
- Bears are adapted to the mountainous terrain, being smaller and lighter to aid climbing, and feed on grasses, insects, berries, acorns, and carrion.
- Despite the recovery, challenges remain, including boosting genetic diversity between isolated groups and ensuring the survival of juveniles, of which only 30% survive their first year alone.