ORDER CARNIVORA: CARNIVORES 225 



4 



Prague, 210 Brown Bears live in this territory, under government 

 protection. (Tratz, in Castelli, 1935, pp. 8-9.) 



Hungary. Blasius (1857, p. 199) reports the bear as still occur- 

 ring in the Hungary of his time, especially in the Carpathians and 

 in the Hungarian Erzgebirge. The species is not found in the 

 reduced Hungary (since World War I) (J. Schenk, in litt., Novem- 

 ber, 1936). 



Yugoslavia. In this country the bear lives especially in the 

 Gottschee district, Carniola, where it is carefully protected, and in 

 the immense woods of the Auersperg district, Carniola (Tratz, in 

 Castelli, 1935, p. 9). 



In Croatia about 20 bears are estimated to inhabit the forested 

 area about Jasenak in the Grosse Kapela. They are also reported 

 as not rare near Otocac and in the northern Velebit Mountains. The 

 bears do far less damage than the wolves to livestock, and are 

 reported as harmless to man. (Wettstein, 1928, p. 33.) 



The species occurs in considerable numbers only in Bosnia. It is 

 found also in Slovenia (forests of Kocevje), in Croatia (forests of 

 Velebit and Vemika Kapela mountains) , and in some parts of Serbia. 

 In these regions a total of 272 specimens were killed from 1891 to 

 1921, including 21 in 1892, 22 in 1893, and 26 in 1910. From 1921 

 to 1931, 51 specimens were killed. (M. Hirtz, in litt., December, 

 1936.) 



Albania. According to Baldacci (1932-33), the Bear still occurs 

 commonly in the mountains in the center and north of Albania 

 (Castelli, 1935, p. 37). 



Greece. The bear occurs in Macedonia and Epirus and does not 

 show a decrease (Game Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Greece, 

 in litt., October, 1936) . It is not a rarity in the extensive forests of 

 the Greek and Turkish Balkans (Tratz, in Castelli, 1935, p. 9) . 



Bulgaria. "The bears are being killed at all seasons of the year, 

 in every manner." A 220-kilo specimen was recently killed in a 

 predatory animal "drive" in the Rhodope Mountains. Reserves 

 for the preservation of the bear are advocated in the Eastern 

 Balkans (Stara Planina) and in the Rhodope and the Pirene Moun- 

 tains. (H. W. Shoemaker, in litt., June 30, 1932, and December 

 27, 1932.) 



The species is found in all the mountains of Bulgaria. The present 

 number is estimated at about 500. Since 1935 the bear may be 

 hunted only on a special license, which is issued only for individuals 

 that have become harmful to cattle pasturing in summer on the 

 mountains. Protection is assured, and there are some reserves where 

 hunting is entirely forbidden. (Bulgarian Game Association "Sokol," 

 in litt., February, 1937.) 



