Anca Toader travelled through some of these forests hoping to spot a wild bear or a wolf.

She was joined by the German wildllife specialist and professional animal tracker, Peter Sürth, who spent more than eight years in Romania studying the large carnivores.

Bears and wolves are shy animals and therefore difficult to spot, but their presence is visible everywhere: from the tracks on the forest’s trails, to the tales of scary encounters told by the villagers or the occasional passer by.

People have lived close to these predators for hundreds of years. But experts warn that rapid development, spurred by the prospect of joining the European Union, could carve up one of the continent's few remaining wildernesses and endanger its animal life.

At stake are the large carnivores: bears, wolves and lynxes.

Decisions made now about construction and conservation will determine whether Romania's natural treasures will ultimately survive.

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	The Carnivore Trail