Wild bear found shot dead in Erbil's Choman, Iraqi Kurdistan

ERBIL, Iraqi Kurdistan region,— The body of a rare wild bear was found on Tuesday in the Choman district of Erbil province, in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. The bear, believed to have been shot several days earlier, was discovered by a local resident, prompting an official investigation, local Rudaw TV reported.

The discovery was first reported on Tuesday when Ibrahim Galazheri, an employee at the Choman mayor’s office, was informed by a local resident who came across the bear’s body near the Kani Rash meadow.

“I promptly notified the mayor, who subsequently instructed the veterinary team to inspect the site. Although the incident occurred on Friday, we only received the information on Tuesday,” Galazheri stated.

A subsequent examination by the veterinary team confirmed that the bear had been deliberately killed.

The team estimated that the bear, which was a brown bear typical of the Balakayati region, was between five and six years old. “This species is known to inhabit the Balakayati areas, though sightings have been rare,” Galazheri added.

The incident has prompted an official investigation, as confirmed by Amir Khoshawi, head of media for Soran’s ranger and forest police. “

The bear appears to have been slain approximately five or six days ago in the Kani Rash region. Due to the cold, mountainous environment, the body remained largely unchanged. The bear was shot once in the left breast,” Khoshawi said. He further noted that the Choman police have launched an investigation into the matter.

According to Khoshawi, the individual responsible for the killing could face serious legal consequences. “Depending on the circumstances of the killing, the perpetrator could be fined 10 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $7,636) and sentenced to one month to three years in prison,” he explained.

The killing highlights the numerous threats facing bear populations in Iraqi Kurdistan region, including military activity, hunting, and poaching.

According to a 2022 report by the Iraqi Kurdistan’s Forestry Police and Environment Directorate in Sulaimani, a total of 889 people were arrested in 2021 for violating hunting and environmental laws.

Hunting is strictly prohibited in Iraqi Kurdistan under the Law of Environmental Protection and Improvement, enacted in 2008. The law includes specific penalties for illegal hunting, such as a fine of 10 million Iraqi dinars (around $8,700) for killing protected species like deer.

Repeat offenders face even harsher penalties, with fines doubling for subsequent offenses.

Despite these laws, illegal hunting remains a significant concern among nature conservationists in the region, who fear that it is driving some species toward extinction.

There is also growing frustration over the perceived inability of the law to effectively curb illegal hunting, particularly when the perpetrators are connected to influential Kurdish families.

Notably, members of the ruling Barzani clan, who wield significant political and economic power in the region, are known for their hunting activities.

Insider reports allege that prominent figures, including tribal leader Massoud Barzani, regularly engage in hunting wild animals. This has fueled further concerns about the lack of accountability in enforcing hunting laws in the region. However, iKurd News couldn’t independently verify these claims.