A brown bear caught in a trap in the village of Çezme in the area of Mokra, in Pogradec was rescued being released from the dangerous trap.

A local resident called the Regional Administration of Protected Areas, Korça and reported that a brown bear was at risk being caught in a trap. The administration workers and professionals specialized in similar cases went immediately to the scene and took all the necessary measures to help the brown bear.

They were assisted in this effort by the State Police, specialists from the Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania (PPNEA) and Callisto Greece.

After they released the brown bear, they also place a GPS on its body to monitor its movements in the following days.

Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro expressed today her gratitude to Korça Regional Administration of Protected Areas, the PPNEA and the Greek environmental organization Callisto for rescuing the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Pogradec.

Kumbaro warned for, “Maximum punishment on illegal hunting” and said that she has confidence in the State Police for clarifying this event that violates the moratorium established precisely to protect the wild animals”.

“After the installation of the GPS for the purpose of continuous monitoring, now the bear is free to move again in its habitat”, said Kumbaro.

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) enjoys national and international protection, being listed in Annex II of the Bern Convention and in the European Habitats Directive.