Slovenian bear to repopulate Pyrenees

French wildlife officials have released a fifth bear into the Pyrenees, the final step in a programme to repopulate the region in south-western France, the Environment Ministry said today.

Sarousse, a 112-kilo, seven-year-old female bear captured in Slovenia, was released into the mountainous French region yesterday, the ministry said. The first of five bears was set free there in April.