Death of Paca, a Symbol of Brown Bear Recovery in Spain Alongside Furaco and Tola

Paca, the bear, was euthanised at the age of 36 to prevent further suffering, as her mobility issues had worsened in recent days, compromising her quality of life. The brown bear was a symbol of the species' recovery in Spain, alongside her sister Tola, who died in 2018, and Furaco, the Cantabrian bear brought to Asturias for breeding purposes.

The three bears became a beacon of hope for the repopulation of the brown bear in Spain following the poaching of Paca and Tola's mother. After nine years without offspring, Furaco left the semi-captive bears in Proaza, Asturias, to return to Cantabria. Now, all three bears have passed away.

The decision was made by the Ministry of Rural Environment and Agricultural Policy of the Principality of Asturias after reviewing the latest veterinary report on Paca, which revealed an "irreversible deterioration" of her physical state, a severe decrease in response to stimuli, and poor body condition.

The story of Paca, Tola, and Furaco became a symbol of the survival of the brown bear in Spain. Their first encounter occurred in 2008, without success, as neither female accepted Furaco's advances. The following spring, in 2009, Furaco and Tola mated. They attempted to reproduce 19 times, but the Asturian bear did not become pregnant.

It was not until 2012 that captive breeding bore fruit, albeit with a tragic outcome. Staff from the Bear Foundation attending to Tola found the body of a newborn cub weighing about 330 grams, apparently crushed by its mother.

Meanwhile, for Paca, the presence of the male became stressful. It disrupted her habitat, leading veterinarians to separate her from the other bears.

The trio of Furaco, Paca, and Tola was widely known. The collaboration between Asturias and Cantabria to repopulate the Cantabrian brown bear species in captivity spanned nine years of attempts. Despite this, the species remains endangered but is making positive strides away from extinction. According to the latest census in 2020, there are around 370 bears.