On the course of the LIFE02/NAT/RO/8576 “In-situ conservation of large carnivores from Vrancea County” project were captured, tranquilised and monitored over 23 individuals of bears, wolves and lynx. Monitoring teams confronted emergency situations that assumed releasing animals caught in ilegal traps, designated for wild-boars and other herbivores.

   The animals suffered serious injuries, that required specialised chirurgical interventions, but their post-intervention status couldn’t be monitorised, and therefore 3 from the 8 bears died at short time after their treatment.

   In order to monitor the health status of these animals, it was imposed the establishing of the Animal Rescue Mobile Unity (ARMU) whose purpose is to rescue trapped animals. Injured animals will beneficiate from specialised medical assistance and after a long period of treatment and surveillance they will be realised in their natural habitat.

   The persons that will participate at the Animal Rescue Mobile Unity (ARMU) will have proper training, for a good evolution of rescuing mission for poached large carnivores. Also there will be assured permanent shifts at the Rehabilitation Centre.

   Under the guidance of local forestry authorities, there will be initiated investigations for the purpose of discovering the responsible of poaching actions and to discourage this phenomenon.

   The unity consists of an ambulance for large carnivores, built on the platform of a Dacia Pick-up 4x4 car, and having the necessary apparatus and instruments for field interventions.

   In the 15 April – 30 June period, in the Centre for Rehabilitation and Monitoring were instructed 6 persons (2 from LF ASD, 1 from EPA Vrancea, 2 from Focsani FD, 1 from CCMESI). Courses were sustained by experienced members and by the team veterinary, in separate sections: biology of large carnivores’ species, poaching individual’s behaviour, tranquilising techniques, first aid techniques.

   The activity of the intervention unity begun in April 2006, being released until summer 2007 a number of 9 bears, one of which required an intervention at the Large Carnivores Rehabilitation and Monitoring Centre. After its healing, this exemplar was released. Another 2 juveniles of 3 months were take-over by families from Coza, and afterwards where transferred at the Centre for Increasing and Rehabilitation of Orphan Bear Cubs of the Vier Photen Foundation from Harghita County. 5 mature exemplars were released from traps installed for the illegal capture of wild-boars. These required medical interventions at the Rehabilitation Centre. Following the signalising of a bear exemplar’s existence in the Herastrau area, the intervention team found the animal dead, bounded between the branches of a tree.

   On all cases, at the bears releases were announced the managers of the hunting founds and local police, and inquests.