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BROWN BEAR�(Ursus arctos)

PROTECTED SPECIES IN BULGARIA

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BROWN BEAR LOOKING FOR FISH

  • The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a protected species, in addition to the Biodiversity Act, and by three international acts - the European Union Habitats Directive, the Bern Convention, and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

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BROWN BEAR WITH CUBS IN THE RHODOPE MOUNTAINS – BULGARIA

  • The brown bear is a protected species in Bulgaria and WWF is actively working to preserve it. It inhabits the deciduous and mixed forests of the Rhodopes, Rila, Pirin and Central Stara Planina Mountains.

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WHY ARE BROWN BEARS VALUABLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM?

  • In the spring, when food is still scarce, bears feed on the carcasses of animals that died in the winter. Their stomachs are strong enough to digest all the pathogens contained in the carcasses. In this way, they help prevent and control dangerous diseases, including African swine fever.

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BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG

  • This is the largest predatory mammal in our country, as an adult specimen can reach up to 350 kilograms. Its population is about 800 individuals.

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THE CUBS

  • The cubs are born in January during their mother's hibernation and weigh only 300-400 grams. However, thanks to their mother's fat-rich milk, they manage to increase their weight about tenfold by April, when they leave the den.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

PRESENTATION PREPARED BY RAYYA RAICHEVA,

"KONSTANTIN VELICHKOV" HIGH SCHOOL - PLOVDIV