In bear country Romania, cohabitation grows strenuous Romania, which has the largest population of brown bears in Europe, is experiencing a growing number of bear attacks, especially on domestic animals. Villagers affected by the attacks want to remove the ban on bear hunting, despite EU law designating the bear as a protected species. Romanian senators have adopted a controversial bill that would allow bear hunting over the next five years, citing an overpopulation of this species. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES