Bear 'Villarina' in front of the lens

Unhurried, the female bear 'Villarina' strolls through the forest in the Cantabrian Mountains in Northern Spain, wallowing in the leaves. With a hidden camera, EuroNatur partner Fapas succeeded in capturing rare insights into the life of the young bear. "'Villarina' is strong and in rude health. I assume that she will have her first offspring in spring next year", concludes Roberto Hartasánchez, director of Fapas, from the video material.

This positive development is all the more good news, because 'Villarina' had a difficult start to her life. In June 2008, tourists found the then six-year-old bear on a road in the Nature Park Somiedo, in the west of the Cantabrian Mountains. She seemed puzzled and alone and had probably been hit by a car. She was then looked after in an animal clinic and after her recovery released into the wild in a valley of the Cantabrian Mountains where she could find plenty of food. In June 2010, a picture from a hidden camera delivered the proof for her successful reintroduction. Now, the current video records deliver further evidence that 'Villarina' is in good health and well on her way to add to the bear population of the Cantabrian Mountains.


Since mid of the nineties, EuroNatur and Fapas have been active in protecting this spectacular mountain range close to the Atlantic coast in northern Spain as habitat for brown bears. Thanks to their consistent efforts, the conditions for brown bears have slowly, but steadily been improving, at least in the western parts of the Cantabrian Mountains.

 

Link to video of Bear Villarina on YouTube

How you can help

Donation

Future needs nature. EuroNatur cares for it. Please use your possibilities to help. With your donation you will make an effective contribution to a more livable environment.

Sustaining membership

EuroNatur focuses on long-term nature conservation projects instead of quick fixes. With your regular donations, you give us the planning security we need.

News

Skavica mega dam: Albanian court to scrutinise special law for U.S. contractor Bechtel

++ Constitutional complaint filed by NGOs accepted for trial ++ First milestone in fight against one of Europe’s largest reservoirs ++ Thousands of…

Growing opposition to Albanian airport

++ Bern Convention calls on Albania to stop airport construction near Narta Lagoon ++ Project in Vjosa Delta endangers thousands of migratory birds ++…

EU Commission targets the wolf

Ursula von der Leyen warns of allegedly "dangerous wolves" - nature conservation organisations criticise misleading statements and dubious data…

Romanian forests: EuroNatur calls for a logging moratorium

+++ Open letter to Commissioner Sinkevičius calls for a logging moratorium in protected areas to end destruction of Romanian forests +++ Fourth…

Controversial airport construction in Albanian protected area casts shadow as far as Munich

++ Operating company Munich Airport International (MAI) is linked to illegal Vlora airport ++ Construction to take place in protected area of special…

Swimming for the monk seal

The Croatian free water swimmer Dina Levačić has been swimming in potential monk seal territories. Her campaign is aimed at drawing attention to the…

Wolf Offspring confirmed in the Black Forest

++ Photo trap image from the community of Schluchsee provides evidence of offspring ++ First wolf pack in over 150 years in Baden-Württemberg ++

Stork Village meeting in Tykocin, Poland

It was an anniversary celebrated in style: For the 20th annual meeting, representatives of the European Stork Villages met for the first time in the…

A slight sigh of relief for the Dalmatian pelicans

The Dalmatian pelicans at Lake Skadar are breeding successfully. This is all the more gratifying because last year's breeding season was disastrous.