New Bear-Friendly Product Display at DINA Pivka Centre in Slovenia

A new display shelf for products bearing the Bear Friendly label was set up last week at the DINA Pivka Centre in Slovenia. This centre serves as a focal point for showcasing and disseminating knowledge about large carnivores in Slovenia. The new shelf will feature a variety of products that adhere to practices promoting coexistence with large carnivores.

The Bear Friendly label, developed under the LIFE DINALP BEAR project, is awarded by Biotechnical faculty of the University of Ljubljana. This label is given to products that promote coexistence with large carnivores based on criteria such as:

·       Effective protection of livestock with electric fences and livestock guarding dogs.

·       Responsible tourism practices that follow the guidelines for responsible bear and wolf tourism.

·       Raising Awareness: Providing objective and accurate information about large carnivores and coexistence measures.

The DINA Pivka Centre attracts over 6,000 visitors per year. Additionally, the centre hosts a local stakeholder platform in Pivka as part of the project, as well as other events for stakeholders like hunters and farmers.

The new display shelf provides additional space for bear-friendly products and serves as a crucial platform for educating visitors about wolf ecology, their role in the ecosystem, and the challenges of coexisting with large carnivores. By doing so, it directly contributes to the project's communication objectives.

Photo caption: The new shelf was accepted by Jana Gržinič, the director of the Public Institute Tourism Pivka and Helena Mandelj Šneberger, the coordinator of pedagogical activities.