JJ4, a female brown bear responsible for a fatal attack on a jogger in Italy in 2023, has been relocated to the Alternative Wolf and Bear Park in Germany’s Black Forest. The move follows months of intense legal disputes and public protests that reversed initial plans to euthanize the bear. JJ4, also known as Gaia, was transported secretly from northern Italy to prevent interference during the transfer and arrived calm and in good condition.
Previously held near Trento, Italy, JJ4 was captured after the body of 26-year-old Andrea Papi was discovered in the Peller Mountain woods. This marked Italy’s first fatal bear attack in modern history. The provincial president ordered JJ4’s euthanasia, but courts blocked multiple attempts, citing animal rights and protections afforded to the Alpine brown bear population, which has grown to nearly 100 since reintroduction efforts around 2000.
At the German sanctuary, JJ4 will live in a specially built one-hectare enclosure protected by electric fences and buried barriers, constructed with around €1 million funded through private donations. Surveillance systems will closely monitor her adaptation to the new environment. JJ4 is expected to be renamed to differentiate her from another resident bear named Gaia. Notably, her mother, Jurka, has been a longtime inhabitant of the sanctuary.
The saga highlights ongoing challenges in balancing wildlife conservation with human safety as bear populations expand in Europe. The case of JJ4 underscores the complexities of wildlife management in areas affected by increasing human-animal interactions.
