The Cachou bear found dead of unknown cause on the Spanish side

His GPS collar showed abnormal immobility for several days. The bear Cachou was found dead Thursday, on a steep slope of the town of Les, in the Val d´Aran, announced the authorities of the Spanish enclave on their
website.

The death, unexplained at the moment, of this 5 year old male bear, already strongly reacts the defenders of the plantigrades.

Agents of Miei Ambient deth Conselh trapen mòrt ar os Cachou en municipi de Les, dempús de comprovar queer animau portaue dies immobil. Peth moment, se desconeish era causa dera mòrt: https://t.co/gbzZqyUcV5 pic.twitter.com/wqI4gWO6xs

– Conselh Generau Aran (@conselharan) April 9, 2020

“Cachou was of particular importance, he was the only descendant of the Balou bear, released in Arbas (Haute-Garonne) in 2006. He carried a genetic heritage different from the rest of the population and was a hope for the future of the species in the Pyrenees “, remind associations this Friday Bear country-Adet and Ferus. “Its disappearance without (known) descendants refers to the great fragility of the Pyrenean bear population, in particular due to an insufficient genetic diversity,” they continue.

Autopsy in Barcelona

Cahou’s remains have been transferred to the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​where the Department of Wildlife Ecopathology is to perform an autopsy.

The two associations ask the French government “to intervene with the Spanish and Catalan authorities so that the cause of Cachou’s death is established and made public”.

Known as ravenous for its attacks on domestic animals, the Cachou bear was particularly watched by the Spanish.