Bears in Brandenburg: Where could you live theoretically?

Bears in Brandenburg: Where could you live theoretically?

Brandenburg, Deutschland - In Brandenburg, the bear question is bubbling! A new study by the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (IDIV) and the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg shows that there are still potential habitats for brown bears in the region. However, these areas are small and isolated. The last known bear was shot in Germany in 1835, and since then the return of the majestic animals has been a hotly discussed topic.

The researchers have identified two areas in the north of Brandenburg, which could be considered “locally suitable for bears”. One is between Wittstock/Dosse and Neuruppin, the other northwest of Eberswalde in the Barnim. But the disillusionment follows on the foot: "The areas are definitely too small to get a bear population," explains Néstor Fernández, main author of the study. Bears need large territories, and the small spots in Brandenburg are simply not suitable for permanently accommodating the animals.

settlement unlikely

The study shows that a total of 16,000 square kilometers of potential habitats exist for bears in Germany, including well -known regions such as the Harz and the Bavarian Alps. But reality looks different. Fernández emphasizes that a settlement in Brandenburg is "extremely unlikely". A single bear would have to cover long distances across the fields and streets to reach the isolated areas - and without a mating partner. A stable bear inventory is not possible without regular influx.

The current living conditions for bears in Europe are challenging. Although there are an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 brown bears in the Carpathians, Alps and Scandinavian forests, Brandenburg remains a place of longing for bear friends. "I don't think bears will populate these areas again in the near future - they are too small and too isolated," concludes Fernández. So the hope of a return of the bears in Brandenburg remains a mind game.