An Italian bear with a penchant for stealing biscuits and befriending domestic pets has been flown by helicopter for the second time to a remote mountain area after repeatedly showing up in a ski resort.
The two-year-old male bear known as Juan Carrito was tranquillised and dropped off in the Majella park in Abruzzo in central Italy, about 40km from Roccaraso, the town where he became a star after breaking into a bakery and eating trays of freshly baked biscuits.
“We know there are other bears in the park there for him to be with and we really hope he stays put this time,” said Antonio Antonucci, a wildlife biologist at the park.
The bear first became known last year when he was spotted drinking from a water fountain in Roccaraso, standing on his hind legs as tourists took pictures and scoffing biscuits.
Worried he would be unable to return to living in the wild and become a danger to humans, experts captured him in December and flew him to mountainous countryside about 15km from the town, but he was back within ten days.
“He found a spot to hibernate for a month, but by February he was rummaging through bins in Roccaraso again and seeking out the company of local dogs to play with,” said Antonucci.
One of about only 60 rare Marsican bears native to the Apennines, Juan Carrito is not aggressive, although he pretended to attack people trying to shoo him away from bins.
“The problem is he is big, over 100kg,” Antonucci said.
On March 6, a trail of apples was used to lure the bear into a trap for a second time and he was taken to a sanctuary to live alongside a bear freed from an illegal zoo run by a mafia gangster.
Lmao
Bad bear! Bad!
A loving biscuit-stealing, dog-friendly bear? He is a national treasure!
My boy Juan at it again! The biscuits must be really good.
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An Italian bear with a penchant for stealing biscuits and befriending domestic pets has been flown by helicopter for the second time to a remote mountain area after repeatedly showing up in a ski resort.
The two-year-old male bear known as Juan Carrito was tranquillised and dropped off in the Majella park in Abruzzo in central Italy, about 40km from Roccaraso, the town where he became a star after breaking into a bakery and eating trays of freshly baked biscuits.
“We know there are other bears in the park there for him to be with and we really hope he stays put this time,” said Antonio Antonucci, a wildlife biologist at the park.
The bear first became known last year when he was spotted drinking from a water fountain in Roccaraso, standing on his hind legs as tourists took pictures and scoffing biscuits.
Worried he would be unable to return to living in the wild and become a danger to humans, experts captured him in December and flew him to mountainous countryside about 15km from the town, but he was back within ten days.
“He found a spot to hibernate for a month, but by February he was rummaging through bins in Roccaraso again and seeking out the company of local dogs to play with,” said Antonucci.
One of about only 60 rare Marsican bears native to the Apennines, Juan Carrito is not aggressive, although he pretended to attack people trying to shoo him away from bins.
“The problem is he is big, over 100kg,” Antonucci said.
On March 6, a trail of apples was used to lure the bear into a trap for a second time and he was taken to a sanctuary to live alongside a bear freed from an illegal zoo run by a mafia gangster.
Lmao
Bad bear! Bad!
A loving biscuit-stealing, dog-friendly bear? He is a national treasure!
My boy Juan at it again! The biscuits must be really good.