I am a frequent visitor to the beautiful Carpathian mountains. On numerous occasions, I've had the privilege of meeting brown bears - majestic, wonderful creatures who deserve our utmost respect and protection.

 However, a recent law promulgated by the Romanian government has put these noble creatures in danger. Specifically, the government has made it legal to kill 500 brown bears in Romania under the guise of population control.

This decision rests on shaky grounds at best, as there has been a lackadaisical approach towards managing and protecting these wildlife species and educating the public about their importance.

Moreover, brown bears are a protected species under the habitats directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC), and it is illegal to hunt or kill a protected species. Romania, as an EU member, should abide by its environmental obligations under these directives.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) acknowledges that bears play vital roles in the ecosystem, having a "significant impact on plant and animal communities" and being critical to the functioning of healthy ecosystems ("Bears: Majestic creatures of the wild", 2005).

To honor these directives and respect the ecological roles bears play, we must implore the Romanian government to reconsider this controversial law and reiterate our commitment to the protection of these magnificent creatures.

The country is home to Europe's largest brown bear population outside Russia. We can't let this happen.

Please stand with us.

Sign this petition to reject the killing of the Romanian brown bears.