The reintroduction of bears in the Val d'Aran and the Lleida Pyrenees has sparked a debate among farmers, tourism operators, and environmental groups. The Aran administration intends to allocate more resources to monitoring and controlling the animals.
One-third of the Lleida Pyrenees, an area covering 1,963 square kilometres, is now bear territory, according to data from the Generalitat. The bear population has grown significantly over the last three decades, from just five individuals to over 100, with 54 of them in Lleida.
This week marks 30 years since the first reintroduction of a bear from Slovenia, an event that reversed the species' decline. The bear, named Ziva, was released by France on 19 May 1996 in Mèles, near the Val d'Aran.
Farmers' Concerns Over Bear Coexistence
Joan Guitart, a farmer from Alt Urgell and head of Natural Environment for Unió de Pagesos, said the presence of wolves and bears makes it necessary to guard flocks again. However, he warned that 'returning to old grazing methods is impossible, as almost no one wants to live that solitary life'. He also noted that GPS collars and other remote monitoring technologies are often hindered by a lack of mobile coverage in much of the mountain territory.
Lluís Viladrich, who leads the wildlife sector for the Jarc union, criticised the compensation system for livestock attacks. He stated that 'indemnities for livestock attacks are not paid, or are paid late and poorly'. Viladrich called for farmers' claims to be given credibility when there are doubts about the cause of an animal's death, as predations are often difficult to prove. He believes the management of wolves is better than that of bears, particularly regarding information for farmers and compensation for damages.
Pere Roqué, president of Asaja Catalunya, highlighted that 'many damages caused by bears to livestock are still not compensated'. These include animals falling to their death while fleeing predators, those suffocating from overcrowding, and miscarriages in females. Roqué said compensating these losses is a common demand from agricultural organisations and farmers. He concluded that 'coexistence with bears and wolves is impossible', adding that 'wildlife is protected more than the people who keep the territory alive'.
Xavier Ribera, a farmer from Pallars Sobirà and president of the Federation of Sheep and Goat Entities of Catalonia, expressed pessimism about coexistence between large predators and extensive livestock farming. He observed that 'the bear population is advancing while that of sheep and goats is decreasing'. Ribera also pointed out that the harm caused by bears extends beyond direct attacks, as 'livestock abandon grazing areas near predators'. He added that these issues occur 'without any of the biodiversity benefits that have been so widely discussed'.
Tourism Sector's Perspective
Josep Castellarnau, a hotelier from Pallars Sobirà and president of the Lleida Hospitality Federation, believes that 'the possibility of establishing bear-based tourism here is a long way off'. He explained that despite the increasing bear population, they remain difficult to spot across most of the Pyrenees, making them less of a tourist attraction. Castellarnau also noted that 'every year there are more bears and many people go to the mountains for hiking or mushroom picking', which increases the risk of incidents.
Environmentalists' Views and Calls for Support
Marc Alonso, spokesperson for the environmental association Depana, works as a guide for observing bears in Aran. He said there is a 'lack of information for people on how a bear behaves and what to do if they encounter one'. Alonso believes it is necessary to share this knowledge with local residents and tourists, as well as to raise awareness in schools. He also stressed the importance of improving support for extensive livestock farming, including preventing damage to flocks and providing compensation when incidents occur.
Joan Vàzquez, spokesperson for the environmental association Ipcena, believes the legal case opened in 2020 following the death of the bear Cachou 'ended the feeling of impunity' among sectors opposed to bears. He attributed a previous campaign to these groups, which he said falsely blamed the poisoned bear and the reintroduced male Goiat for livestock attacks. Vàzquez criticised the European Commission for 'only putting money' into the reintroduction process, lamenting its lack of direct supervision over the species' recovery.
Guillermo Palomero, president of the Fundación Oso Pardo, which focuses much of its work in the Cantabrian Mountains, was a partner in the Piroslife programme in Lleida a decade ago. His organisation continues to run awareness initiatives and plant fruit trees for bears in the Lleida Pyrenees. Palomero stated that 'much more attention is needed to ensure coexistence' between livestock farming and bears. He added that 'work is already underway, but it needs to be done more intensely', requiring a presence 'on the ground to address problems'.
Pau Vázquez, spokesperson for the environmental association Adlo Pirineu, defended the need to preserve extensive livestock farming. He believes the bear 'pays the price for what is done badly' by the administration. Vázquez suggested that 'reducing the bureaucracy for compensating attacks and paying quickly' would prevent frustration among farmers. He also highlighted that 'the Mercosur agreement and excessive bureaucracy are real threats' to livestock farming. He proposed that administrations accept help from 'entities that want to collaborate with farmers'.
