Slovenia 2018-Peace and Bears

Peace and Bears

Knowing about Marc Graf’s sensational bear project, it was only a matter of time before I would photograph bears on site. This time we find ourselves in southern Slovenia at the end of May to roam through the forests and wait for bears in specially prepared hides. It is the ideal season for spotting bears and the area is much wilder than one might think. Interspersed with karstic ground but also hilly and green with lush meadows, it offers a beautiful setting for the approximately 900 brown bears that can live here freely. In addition to the two cute young bear cubs and their huge mother bear I can also photograph a large Ural owl, and as we hike through a utopian, partly collapsed cave I notice how the whole area is picturesque, and also plant lovers and macro photographers would be pleased. After a few days one gets a fascinating glimpse into the peaceful coexistence of large carnivores and humans and see that this can certainly be a symbiotic relationship. While we do not notice any dangerous incidents and are ourselves never in danger, it is clear to everyone here where nature begins and the realm of humans ends.