Roztoki Górne. Dead bear in the Bieszczady Mountains. “It cannot be ruled out that there has been a shooting”

The services explain the causes and circumstances of the death of the bear, which was found in Roztoki Górne in the Bieszczady Mountains in Podkarpackie. The animal had a wound on the stomach. The prosecutor's office informs that it cannot be ruled out that someone has intentionally shot her.

The dead bear was found by a random person on Sunday (April 20) in a forest massif near Roztok Górne in the commune of Cisna near the border with Slovakia. The application was received by the Poviat Police Headquarters in Lesko around 8:30. – Our officers inspected the place of the incident and questioned witnesses – the staff aspirant Katarzyna Fechner, press officer of the Poviat Police Headquarters in Lesko.

The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Rzeszów was notified of the case. The age of the dead bear was estimated for three or four years.

The investigation in this case is being conducted by the District Prosecutor's Office in Lesko. It takes place from Article 181 par. 3 of the Penal Code, which concerns damage to nature.

§ 1. Whoever causes destruction in the plant or animal world in a significant size is subject to the penalty of deprivation of liberty from 6 months to 8 years. 5. § 3. The penalty specified in § 2 is also subject to the one who, regardless of the place of act, destroys or damages plants, animals, fungi under species protection or their habitats, causing significant damage. § 4. If the perpetrator of the act specified in § 1 acts inadvertently, is subject to a fine, the penalty of restriction of liberty or deprivation of liberty up to 2 years.

As Marta Kolendowska-Matejczuk, spokeswoman for the District Prosecutor's Office in Krosno, the investigation concerns “causing on an undetermined day no later than April 19, 2025. In an unknown place with effect in Roztoki Górne destruction by killing a brown bear, causing significant damage to the animal world.”

The spokeswoman said that it could not be ruled out, that the bear was shot. “At the current stage, making a clear statement in this respect is difficult due to the process of decomposition and associated with this need for detailed research by an expert appropriate specialty” – she emphasized.

It is also not excluded that the Bear could have been hurt in Slovakia, where these predators were introduced.

In the near future there will be an autopsy of the animal to determine the causes of his death.

The prosecutor's office will also determine and interrogate any witnesses of the incident to determine whether there has been intentional killing of the bear and whether it happened in Slovakia or Poland. In our country, bears are under strict protection and then it will be a crime for which he faces up to five years in prison.

“Further findings also require the nature of this act – in particular in terms of assessing whether the killing of the bear caused destruction in the animal world in significant sizes, which would justify the qualification of the act from the provision Articles 181 Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code” – sums up prosecutor Marta Kolendowska -Matejczuk.

From 1952, bears in our country are covered by strict species protection. This means that they cannot be killed, hurt or catching, scared and disturbed, destroying their habitats, keep them in captivity, or trade them or their thunders, leather or fat. Any violation of these bans is punishable – it can be a fine, limitation of freedom, and even up to five years in prison.