The brown bear is an important part of the naturaland cultural heritage both in Slovenia and elsewhere in Europe. Today Slovenia is one of the rare countries in Europe with stabile and one of the most vital brown bear population. The Slovenian brown bear population is very important for the re-introduction of this species in Italy, Austria and France. The issue featuring brown bears in a habitual for them conditions was designed by Zlatko Drčar.
Brown bear is the largest carnivore in Europe. Meeting with the animal in its natural habitat is certainly an unforgettable, extraordinary experience! Slovenian bears are part of a large population covering the area from the Eastern Alps in north- eastern Italy to the Pindus mountains in Greece. The brown bear was very common in Slovenia until 18th century. But, reduction of woodlands, intensive agriculture, extensive hunting and the systematic human interference with all three large predator species drastically reduced the population. At the beginning of the twentieth century there were only 30 to 40 brown bears in Slovenia. It was only in the second half of the previous century that their number began increasing.
See also other interesting fauna stamps.
