PROJET OURS

Velebit Association Kuterevo is a local non-governmental organization. Since the year 2001 it has been running a project of the bear refuge located in the village of Kuterevo - Refugium Ursorum. The vision of Refugium Ursorum Kuterevo is the sustainability of the natural ecosystem and the local mountain community. Its mission is to provide refuge for orphaned bear cubs, protect their habitat and promote the sustainable living traditions of the local mountain community. The main activities of the organisation are the care of resident bears and the bear facilities, informative and educational work with visitors and running the Volunteers' Station. From Spring till Autumn the Refuge hosts many groups and volunteers from all around the bear world. In 2011 the Bear Refuge took care about 8 orphan bears (age 2-9). All of these bears lost their mothers during their first year of life and thus had no chance of survival in the wild. The resources required for the care of these bears are sourced from donations of visitors and institutions. Each year the Refuge is visited by more than 20,000 people who get informed about the bear conservation, problems, solutions and possibilites. One of the core aims of the project is education of wider community about importance of the existence of this charismatic animal in Croatia and region. It is estimated that population in Croatia is around 1200 bears, what is genetically the most stable bear populations in Europe. The bear is considered as a game animal and the population is being controled by hunting, including trophy hunting. This very important umbrella species together with its habitat, undestroyed wilderness, have to be smartly managed, preserved and moreover respected for its nature.