83 brown bears recorded in Pyrenees mountains in 2023, up from 76 in 2022 due to successful reintroduction program.

The brown bear population in the Pyrenees mountains has continued to grow, with French authorities reporting 83 bears recorded in 2023, up from 76 in 2022. The increase is attributed to the success of a reintroduction program that brought in three bears from a healthy population in Slovenia three decades ago. The large mammals are integral to preserving the region's ecosystem.