He did it: King Juan Carlos shot that bear in Russia, albeit he wasn't aware that the organizers of the hunt had fed the bear vodka with honey, so that the bear was drunk.
Here's a video reportage that the Dutch tv station RTL made. Scroll all the way down to where it says: 'Video's Maandag' and click on 'Jacht op Dronken Beer' which translates as "Hunting a Drunk Bear".
http://www.rtl.nl/actueel/rtlnieuws/video/
And no, it doesn't include footage of the actual hunt, but they show where it took place and interview locals who have their say and confirm it was him, yep indeedy it was. no matter what the Spanish king's flak's denials say.
The video won't be up for much longer: usually no more than a week.
So, people, he did it. He shot that bear. The bear was a semi-tame bear that everyone in the neighborhood knew and loved.
Granted, the King probably didn't realize that this bear wasn't wild, and that it was drunk. But he could have known, as experts say this is not an uncommon practice in Russia.
Why oh why can't the Monarch of a country keep to, say, sailing or playing golf?
Why does he resort to doing what would be plainly ILLEGAL in HIS OWN COUNTRY???
Funny how little sympathy this Monarch, himself belonging to the 'endangered species' of reigning monarchs, can't have an ounce of sympathy for another, also not-so-ubiquitous-anymore, innocent, creature, a bear?
I used to admire King Juan Carlos for his bravery. He's brave no longer in my view. The RTL news crew interviewed some locals in Russia who are really sad their bear is shot, by just some dude from Spain who thinks it's his prerogative as a rich person to go to a country and get privileges there most of us wouldn't.
For Shame, JC. I expected much more from the guy I used to think was the best male monarch in the world. For Shame!
He looks very nice and distinguished.
