FIRST BROWN BEAR ROAD KILL

The first case of a brown bear being killed on the road was confirmed last week by the foundation set up to protect the species. The Brown Bear Foundation said a young male was hit by a lorry early last Tuesday morning on the A-6 highway in Trabadelo, Leon province. Apparently the animal had climbed over the fence protecting the bear sanctuary in Alto Sil. A spokesman for the Brown Bear Association said: "The young males love exploring and it's not unusual for them to stray." He said there are only 130 brown bears in the north of Spain and that Alto Sil was a major reproductive area.