A remote mountain village in southern Kosovo is sounding the alarm after brown bears—normally elusive and protected by law—have begun roaming freely through residential areas, entering storage buildings, and creating what locals describe as a daily safety emergency.
The situation in Bellobrad, a village of roughly 700 residents near the Albanian border, is escalating fast — and authorities have yet to respond.
Bears Seen in Broad Daylight
Villagers say encounters with bears are no longer rare nighttime events but increasingly bold, daylight sightings.
“I’ve seen them during the day. They wander through the village like they’re domesticated,” said resident Gezin, who spoke to AFP but withheld his last name out of concern.
Social media videos filmed by locals have gone viral, showing several bears tipping over objects, rummaging for food, and entering private yards. One widely shared photo depicts bears breaking into storage buildings filled with white sacks — attempting to tear them open.
Schools Sound the Alarm
The situation has become so dangerous that the local elementary school formally urged police to take action.
“The presence of these wild animals poses a serious risk to our students, staff, and the entire village,” the school wrote in an urgent letter. Principal Ajas Myrtezani warned that mornings and evenings — when children walk to and from school — are particularly hazardous.
But despite multiple calls for intervention, Kosovo police have not yet responded.
Regional Authorities Seek Emergency Support
Bexhet Gjeladini, head of the Dragaš region, posted on Facebook that he has requested assistance from a local hunting association.
According to Gjeladini, hunters will now work alongside municipal leaders to monitor bear activity and report sightings near populated areas — but residents say they need action, not observation.
With no official response and bear sightings increasing, villagers fear the situation could soon turn tragic.