TIRANA, April 26 /ATA/ – By I. Vata/- The brown bear population on Mount Dajti has started to recover after enactment of hunting memorandum.
The brown bear is monitored by the National Agency of Protected Areas in Tirana and trap cameras have captured this species moving at night in the area of Dajti Mountain.
The Brown Bear has its own habitat. It prefers to live under a dense forest cover. It populates all forested areas, preferring beech forests and mixed forests as food base. It is widespread all across the territory of the park.
Ursus arctos is one of the largest living carnivores. However, the size and weight of this bear varies considerably between populations. It is a consequence of both genetic factors and nutrition.
The Brown Bear is 1 to 3 m in length from head to rump and 90 to 150 cm tall at the shoulder. Average weights are close to 200 kg for males and 135 kg for females. In all populations, males, on average, are larger and outweigh females. Weight also shows large seasonal fluctuations.
The heaviest individuals have been found in populations with access to salmon in coastal Alaska. Some males can weigh as much as 780 kg. The smallest ones are found in Southern Europe and Alberta (Canada), where females average between 70 and 55 kg respectively.
Fur is usually dark brown, but varies from cream to almost black. They moult once a year; and have small, round ears, a distinct shoulder hump, and a small, invisible tail.
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