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The political isolation during the communist regime and the economic crisis that followed its downfall adversely affected the conservation of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Albania. In 2008-2009 we conducted questionnaires and field surveys in southeastern Albania to determine the presence of bears and evaluate bear-human interactions, and on-site inspections to record the status of bears held in captivity. We recorded bears mainly in the eastern and southeastern part of the study area and documented wide-scale bear-human conflicts, which often resulted in the killing and a generally negative public perception of bears. We documented 25 bears in captivity, often under marginal welfare conditions and noted wild-born cubs that were maintained in captivity to meet the demand for captive bears. We recommend additional studies to better evaluate brown bear status; nation-wide education on species conservation needs and how to mitigate negative interactions; and efforts to improve welfare of bears in captivity.