The forests of the Carpathians are areas inhabited by many different species of wild animals. The forest is their home, and there is an owner of it. The brown bear has long been called the owner of the Carpathian forests. It is no coincidence that this animal in the human imagination received this status. The fact is that the brown bear is the largest animal in the Carpathians, has a formidable appearance, and is associated with power and authority. By the way, the bear is depicted even on the coat of arms of Transcarpathia.
Despite its respectable status, nowadays the brown bear in the wild nature of the Carpathians is actually in a rather difficult situation. In recent decades, its number has decreased. This was facilitated by the intensive destruction of the animal’s habitat, the reduction of the forage base, and the disturbance factor. Thus, the owner of the Carpathians became a rare species, which is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
The biological diversity of the Carpathians with an emphasis on the protection and conservation of the brown bear was discussed during an ecological and educational event on April 29 in Synevyrska Polyana in the Khust region. There are brown bears in the forest surroundings of this village. Their numbers are small, but some locals have encountered a bear in the forests. What to do in such cases? How do retreat and not cause the aggression of a wild beast? What to do if a bear is following you? These and other questions were answered by students together with representatives of the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies. The children learned a lot about the life and behavior of the brown bear, its benefits for wildlife, and measures to preserve it. Students shared their own knowledge and thoughts about this animal with the help of the interactive exercise. This part was a creative and emotional stage of the event, which added new knowledge and a good mood.
The event was held in cooperation with the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies – IERS (headed by Alexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (#NABU), project coordinator Ivan Tymofeiev.
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Informational Service of IERS