Why Does Harghita County Need a Bear Park<\/p>\n
Experience, Responsibility, and a Vision for the Future \u2013 Lessons from Z\u0103rne\u0219ti<\/p>\n
The bear issue in Harghita County is not a new problem. We have been living with it for years\u2014often 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\u2019s safety, the peace of local communities, and our future.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Where Did We Start?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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\u2014quite the opposite. The growing number of bears and the increasing frequency and severity of human\u2013bear conflicts clearly show that a systemic solution is needed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Over the years, the Harghita County Council has examined several possible locations: the Felcs\u00edk area, Gyergy\u00f3alfalu, 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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What Does Z\u0103rne\u0219ti Show Us?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Today, visiting the functioning bear reserve in Z\u0103rne\u0219ti, near Bra\u0219ov, it is clear:<\/p>\n
a bear park is not a theory, but a working reality.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Z\u0103rne\u0219ti reserve provides shelter for bears:<\/p>\n
\u2013 that have become dangerous,<\/p>\n
\u2013 that authorities did not want or were unable to shoot,<\/p>\n
\u2013 but that could no longer remain near inhabited areas.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At the same time, Z\u0103rne\u0219ti 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\u2014it is also about economic development.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lessons from Veresegyh\u00e1z<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
An equally important example is the bear park in Veresegyh\u00e1z, Hungary, which has been operating successfully for years. There, the park does not only serve safety and conservation purposes, but also:<\/p>\n
\u2013 creates jobs,<\/p>\n
\u2013 contributes several million euros annually to the local economy,<\/p>\n
\u2013 and provides a stable tourist offering throughout the year.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This shows that a well-organized bear park is not a burden, but a resource.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What Could This Mean for Harghita County?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In Harghita County, a bear park would:<\/p>\n
\u2013 reduce the risks posed by dangerous individuals,<\/p>\n
\u2013 provide safety for local communities,<\/p>\n
\u2013 become a strong tourist attraction,<\/p>\n
\u2013 support the marketing of local products,<\/p>\n
\u2013 create jobs directly and indirectly,<\/p>\n
\u2013 and have a stable long-term economic impact.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Whose Responsibility Is This?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This is not the responsibility of a single person. It is a shared community and political responsibility.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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\u2014not as a campaign topic, but as a real problem. Building on previous measures, further steps are now needed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Why Now?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Recent tragedies, growing tensions, and the experience of Z\u0103rne\u0219ti all send a clear message:<\/p>\n
now is the time to act.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That is why it was important to be in Z\u0103rne\u0219ti today\u2014not 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\u2014and there must also be unity.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
If that unity exists, we will not only catch up, but we can become better, stronger, and more visible.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Z\u0103rne\u0219ti, 30 December 2025<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Why Does Harghita County Need a Bear Park Experience, Responsibility, and a Vision for the Future \u2013 Lessons from Z\u0103rne\u0219ti The bear issue in Harghita County is not a new problem. We have been living with it for years\u2014often out of necessity, often in fear, and unfortunately sometimes at the cost of human tragedies. Recent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1642"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1644,"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1642\/revisions\/1644"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cor.borbolycsaba.ro\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}