Last Thursday, 21 May, the Brown Bear Foundation (FOP) had the opportunity to speak at the VíaNatur Film Festival about the need to implement conflict prevention and mitigation measures to facilitate coexistence between bears and local residents in bear areas. In this context, the FOP, together with the municipalities with the highest bear densities in the western Cantabrian Mountains, is developing the LIFE Human Bear Coex project, which includes measures such as protecting beehives and other property with electric fences and deterrents, installing bear-proof waste container covers, and capturing and radio-tracking habituated bears in Asturias.
In addition, two films produced by the FOP were screened: one about the lives of Cantabrian brown bears throughout the four seasons, featuring footage recorded by the field team, and an animated short film offering advice on how to safely explore brown bear habitat in the mountains.
This event was part of the extensive programme of the third edition of the VíaNatur Film Festival, which focuses on threatened wild mammals and is being held from 17 to 24 May in Valladolid. Initiatives such as this create a much-needed space for educational and critical reflection, helping to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment.