Skiers film mother bear and cubs emerging from hibernation in Catalan Pyrenees

Two skiers have captured footage of a mother bear and her two cubs in the mountains near Tavascan, in the county of Pallars Sobirà in the Catalan Pyrenees.

The sighting, recorded on Monday close to the Tavascan ski resort, comes as brown bears begin to emerge from hibernation with the arrival of spring, with heavy snow still covering the higher peaks.

The footage also shows the bears' paw prints in the snow. 

Brown bears in Catalonia 

The brown bear population in the Catalan Pyrenees has been steadily recovering in recent years.

According to data collected in 2024 by the Cross-Border Brown Bear Monitoring Group (GSTOP), there were 47 identified individuals in the region. That same year saw the birth of 10 cubs in Catalonia alone.

Across the entire Pyrenees mountain range, the population is estimated at around 100 bears.

An endangered species in the region and protected under European law, conservationists view their return as a positive sign.

Environmental groups describe the bears' presence as an indicator of ecological health and highlight its potential to support sustainable development through responsible ecotourism – an approach already seen in other parts of Europe, such as Spain's Cantabrian Mountains.

However, the growing bear population has also brought challenges. In 2024, a series of attacks on livestock in areas including Val d'Aran and Pallars Sobirà sparked protests among local shepherds.