Slovenia: Brown Bear Delight
Photographing brown bears in Europe demands a great deal of patience, but in the stunning landscapes of Slovenia every moment is worth the wait.
A gentle drumming rings through the air as a black woodpecker searches for food in beech forests of Slovenia’s Dinaric Alps. Cuckoo, cuckoo sounds repeatedly as the cuckoo’s call spreads far and wide. Still there are no bears, but a scold of jays hope from one rocky outcrop to another in search of food. Then finally, a dark shape appears on the edge of the treeline, tentatively approaching the purpose-built hides. Our first bear, a youngster probably only two years old nervously wanders around the partial clearing, hoovering up the corn that is put out each day.
Watching bears in Europe is no easy feat, and what makes watching them in Slovenia so charming, is that you get to join them in their forest home. Everything is on their terms and there will be periods in the hides where not a lot happens, but when a bear does decide to make an appearance every minute without was worth the wait. These large mammals are utterly gorgeous, each with their own markings, colourations and characters. No bear is the same and each sighting differs too.
On our third evening in the hides a bear comes into view. This individual is noticeably nervous, always watching the forest for any approaching danger, repeatedly standing up and providing some stunning photographic opportunities. The nerves have nothing to do with us in the hides. Perhaps there is another bear in the forest, just out of sight? After some time the bear decides to move away, disappearing from our view but only after climbing atop a rocky outcrop.
The hides from which we photograph are based at a variety of locations across the Dinaric Alps, all within 45 minutes of our base, the simple but charming Mlakar Guest House. Slovenia’s forests are home to much more than bears, but much of the life here is particularly elusive. Packs of wolves roam the forests, lynx are here too but seldom seen, then there are red and roe deer, wild boar, beech marten, golden jackal, red fox, badger and dormice galore. The birdlife is equally impressive with Ural owl probably the real showstopper.
Our final night proves to be a great finale. Two separate bears delight us with their antics for quite some time. The first is a very small youngster, darting around at high speed, always on edge and running right past one of the hides ,while the second is much larger and wanders slowly through the stunning forest landscape.
Each year we return, Slovenia shows a different side, but one thing remains constant – the bears. What a charming country, filled with lovely people and brilliant wildlife, it is a hidden gem and should surely be added to your list.
Join us in Slovenia in 2020 on our Brown Bear Photography tour. Contact the Wildlife team to book your place.
