Why Does Harghita County Need a Bear Park?

Why Does Harghita County Need a Bear Park

Experience, Responsibility, and a Vision for the Future – Lessons from Zărnești

The bear issue in Harghita County is not a new problem. We have been living with it for years—often out of necessity, often in fear, and unfortunately sometimes at the cost of human tragedies. Recent events have once again proven that this issue can no longer be postponed, as it concerns people’s safety, the peace of local communities, and our future.

 

Where Did We Start?

 

In Harghita County, the idea of establishing a bear park or bear reserve has been on the agenda since 2019. At the time, many were skeptical: some considered it too large, others too complex. Since then, however, the situation has not improved—quite the opposite. The growing number of bears and the increasing frequency and severity of human–bear conflicts clearly show that a systemic solution is needed.

 

Over the years, the Harghita County Council has examined several possible locations: the Felcsík area, Gyergyóalfalu, and later the surroundings of Praid and Borzont. Consultations were held with common property associations, local authorities, and ministries. The intention was present on several occasions, but due to the national legal and institutional framework and the lack of political will, no final decision was made.

 

What Does Zărnești Show Us?

 

Today, visiting the functioning bear reserve in Zărnești, near Brașov, it is clear:

a bear park is not a theory, but a working reality.

 

The Zărnești reserve provides shelter for bears:

– that have become dangerous,

– that authorities did not want or were unable to shoot,

– but that could no longer remain near inhabited areas.

 

This is one of the most important lessons for Harghita County as well. Not every bear needs to be sedated or shot. But not every bear can remain free in the immediate vicinity of people either. A reserve provides safety for communities and offers a humane solution for the animals.

 

At the same time, Zărnești clearly proves that a bear park can be a major tourist attraction. Hundreds of visitors daily, organized programs, entrance tickets, and local services. This is not only about nature conservation—it is also about economic development.

 

Lessons from Veresegyház

 

An equally important example is the bear park in Veresegyház, Hungary, which has been operating successfully for years. There, the park does not only serve safety and conservation purposes, but also:

– creates jobs,

– contributes several million euros annually to the local economy,

– and provides a stable tourist offering throughout the year.

 

This shows that a well-organized bear park is not a burden, but a resource.

 

What Could This Mean for Harghita County?

 

In Harghita County, a bear park would:

– reduce the risks posed by dangerous individuals,

– provide safety for local communities,

– become a strong tourist attraction,

– support the marketing of local products,

– create jobs directly and indirectly,

– and have a stable long-term economic impact.

 

Praid, Borzont, or the Bucsin area are all locations where natural conditions, proximity to forests, and existing tourism infrastructure could together form the basis for such a development.

 

Whose Responsibility Is This?

 

This is not the responsibility of a single person. It is a shared community and political responsibility.

 

The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ/UDMR) is the only political force that addresses the bear issue consistently, logically, and with a long-term perspective—not as a campaign topic, but as a real problem. Building on previous measures, further steps are now needed.

 

The role of the Harghita County Council is not merely administrative, but also to think strategically, to encourage action, to set direction, and to bring together the stakeholders: local authorities, common property associations, experts, and ministries.

 

Why Now?

 

Recent tragedies, growing tensions, and the experience of Zărnești all send a clear message:

now is the time to act.

 

That is why it was important to be in Zărnești today—not only to see what works elsewhere, but also to learn, plan, and create something better at home. Harghita County has the knowledge and the potential—and there must also be unity.

 

If that unity exists, we will not only catch up, but we can become better, stronger, and more visible.

 

Zărnești, 30 December 2025