Description
The Carpathian Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is a mammal indigenous to Romania. It inhabits dense forests of the carpathian mountains, from foothills to alpine zones.
Habitat
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Fun Facts
The Carpathian Mountains hold the largest contiguous brown bear population in Europe outside Russia
Romania's bear population has grown so much that human-bear encounters in Transylvania have become a significant conservation challenge
Despite being the same species as grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), European brown bears are less aggressive and more skittish around humans
In Romanian folklore, the bear (ursul) is a central figure — 'Capcaun' is a mythical bear-like creature said to kidnap children
They can eat up to 40 kg (90 lbs) of food per day in autumn to build fat reserves for hibernation lasting 3–7 months