IJ4EU Confidential: Europe’s bear crisis exposed

This episode goes behind the scenes of "Bears Uncovered", a cross-border investigation exposing the surging brown bear populations in Europe and their complex relationship with humans.

With insights from investigative journalists Michael Bird and Ovidiu Stancu, learn about shifting bear management practices across 26 European countries, the ethical quandaries of culling versus conservation, and the real-world impacts of human encroachment and climate change on these majestic animals.

“I think it's a test of humans,” Bird said. “It's a test of how we can learn to coexist with such a large predator. Do we coexist with them or do we slaughter them? That’s our choice.

“And if we choose to coexist with them, we have to find a way to do it because in some ways they’re the animals closest to us. They stand on two legs. They have hands that look like us. If you look at a bear, a skeleton or a body, it’s very humanistic. They eat exactly the same food. They are very close to us in many ways.

“So it is a test of our ability to live with nature as to whether or not we can coexist with bears.”

Featuring alarming reportage and expert discussions, this episode is a must for anyone interested in wildlife conservation and investigative journalism – or anyone who likes hiking in Europe!

Presented by Timothy Large and Milica Miletić from the International Press Institute. IPI supported this investigation through its IJ4EU fund for cross-border watchdog journalism.

BEARS UNCOVERED:
https://bearsuncovered.com/
MORE INFO ON THIS INVESTIGATION:
https://www.investigativejournalismfo...

00:00 Welcome to IJ4EU Confidential
00:21 Exciting Upcoming Conference in Athens
01:26 The Growing Conflict with Europe's Brown Bears
02:09 Bears Uncovered: A Cross-Border Investigation
03:16 Meet the Investigative Journalists
05:03 Alarming Footage: The Bear Crisis in Europe
06:35 The Genesis of the Bear Investigation
08:13 The Complexities of Bear Population Management
11:43 Horrible Conditions for Captive Bears
20:57 Bear Smart Cities: A New Approach
26:43 Cultural Symbols vs. Living Bears
31:15 Bear Management in Slovenia
32:09 Hunting vs. Culling Bears
34:02 Trials of Problem Bears
37:13 Black Market Bear Trade
39:10 Impact of Climate Change on Bears
42:51 Human-Bear Interactions and Safety
53:27 Future of Bear Conservation
56:47 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

#bears #bearsuncovered #investigativejournalism