More than 80 grizzly bears have died this year around Yellowstone in the United States. Conservation groups reported the figure on Tuesday and urged strong national protection for the bears.
At least 50 deaths were caused by people, according to the statement published by the environmental law organization Earthjustice. The groups said another 15 deaths remained under investigation.
The figures cover the wider Yellowstone region, across parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. They do not refer only to bears inside Yellowstone National Park.
Earthjustice described this as a third year of record deaths. The statement comes during a dispute over who should manage the bears and when killing them should be allowed.
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A plan to give states more control
On July 14, the US Interior Department proposed giving state authorities more control over grizzly management. The department said the plan would keep protection under the Endangered Species Act, a national wildlife law.
Officials argued that some bear populations had met or passed recovery goals. They said greater local control would help authorities respond to conflicts involving people and farm animals.
Conservation groups disagree. They fear the changes would allow more bears to be killed while deaths are already high.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
