Problem bear killed by authorities
A bear has been shot in eastern Switzerland after repeatedly entering populated areas of canton Graubünden.
The bear, known as JJ3, was killed on Monday after attempts to frighten it away failed in recent weeks, the environment ministry announced.
The bear did not show any fear and had become a danger to the population, a spokesman added.
JJ3 caused problems last year, destroying rubbish bins around the Lenzerheide resort and in the Albula valley. The cantonal government decided it would be killed if it moved into populated areas again.
Switzerland’s “Bear Strategy” maintains that bears and humans can co-exist peacefully but enables regional authorities to act if public safety is threatened.
The bear arrived in the area from Italy in June 2007 and was fitted with a tracking device last year. His brother JJ1 was killed after roaming into Bavaria from Austria in 2006. His other brother, JJ2, was the first brown bear to be spotted in Switzerland for over a century.
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