The Carpathians — Europe's largest mountain range — arc through Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Ukraine, and Romania, hosting the continent's largest populations of brown bears, wolves, and Eurasian lynx outside Russia. Old-growth forest remnants and low human density make this Europe's greatest remaining large carnivore stronghold.
Romania holds Europe's largest brown bear population outside Russia — approximately 5,000-6,000 animals. The welfare situation is complex: bears have habituated to human settlements and garbage dumps, creating conflict that leads to lethal removal. Trophy hunting of bears was banned in 2016, but conflict killing under "intervention orders" continues at rates that conservationists argue are excessive. Snaring and vehicle strikes add to mortality. Bears that raid beehives or orchards face retaliatory killing that may be illegal but is difficult to enforce in remote areas.
Carpathian wolves face persecution from farmers who lose livestock. Poisoning — using illegal compounds — kills wolves slowly and agonizingly. Snaring causes prolonged suffering. Legal hunting quotas exist in Slovakia and Romania; illegal killing supplements this. Pack disruption from killing breeding adults leaves dependent pups to starve.
EU-wide wolf status review is ongoing — some member states have requested downlisting from "strictly protected" to allow more flexible management. Animal welfare organizations argue that non-lethal deterrents (livestock guardian dogs, electric fencing) should be maximized before lethal control is permitted.
European bison (wisent) — extinct in the wild by 1927 — have been reintroduced to multiple Carpathian sites. The Tarcu Mountains in Romania now host a free-roaming herd of 100+ animals. Each successful calf birth represents welfare progress — animals living naturally rather than in captivity. Bison face: wolves (natural predator interaction), vehicle strikes where ranges overlap roads, and occasional poaching.