Minister of Environment Hakob Simidyan paid a working visit to Shatin settlement of Yeghegis enlarged community of Vayots Dzor region in order to get acquainted with the damages caused by gray bears to the inhabitants of the communities and to discuss the problem with the citizens.
The members of the working group dealing with human-wildlife conflict issues headed by the minister, accompanied by Vayots Dzor Deputy Governor Davit Sargsyan and Shatin community leader, visited the households affected by animal attacks, talked with the residents, and presented the solution options developed during this process.
In his speech, the minister emphasized that despite the complexity of the problem, harming the animal is definitely unacceptable and is regulated by legislation.
After the tour of the community, the working group held a consultation at the Vayots Dzor Municipality.
Three short-term urgent measures have been identified:
-organization of garbage collection in this community in a special mode
- deployment of electric herders in problem areas for the entry of bears
- the behavior of problematic individuals will be studied with a special electronic collar in order to have its further scientific justification.
In the coming days, another meeting will be held at the Ministry of Environment, specific responsible persons and deadlines for each operation will be appointed.
In his concluding speech, the minister emphasized once again that environmental and socio-economic interests should be balanced when solving the problem and urged his colleagues to keep the issue and the problems of the citizens affected as a result of it in the center of special attention.