Controversy Over Bear Management and Culling in Slovakia

Controversy Surrounding Bear Management in Slovakia

Between January and mid-July, authorities in Slovakia, along with hunters, have culled over three dozen bears, igniting significant backlash from environmentalists and activists. According to Milan Boroš, the general director of Slovakia’s State Nature Conservancy, authorities were responsible for the shooting of 30 so-called “problematic” bears, while hunters were granted permission to hunt an additional 11 bears.

This drastic action follows a series of bear attacks last year, some of which proved fatal, prompting a reevaluation of the protected status of bears in Slovakia and the broader Central and Eastern European region. In response, Slovakia’s far-right environment minister, Tomáš Taraba, has advocated for enhanced measures to protect human populations, which includes increasing opportunities for hunters to eliminate bears deemed dangerous.

However, this approach has faced staunch opposition from ecologists and the Progressive Slovakia party. MEP Michal Wiezik, a vocal advocate for the bear population, criticized the environment ministry’s actions, arguing that they merely serve to legalize trophy hunting for bears. He stated, “We don’t see any new competences, we don’t see any strengthening of preventative measures.”

Wiezik further questioned the true motivations behind these policies, asking, “Was it really about protecting and ensuring peace and quiet for the residents, or was the real motive to cater to the interests of hunters?”

Legal Context and EU Regulations

The European brown bear currently enjoys protection under the EU Habitats Directive and the Bern Convention. Nevertheless, in June, Brussels provisionally approved Slovakia’s request to amend its laws, allowing for the hunting of bears spotted near populated areas, as noted in a document reviewed by Euronews.

Assessing the Threat: How Dangerous Are Slovakia’s Bears?

Numerous videos circulating on social media platforms like X depict encounters between bears and humans, highlighting the potential dangers that these interactions pose. One notable video shared by user Maciej Perzyna showcases the town of Liptovský Mikuláš, located near the Tatra mountains, where five individuals aged between 10 and 72 suffered injuries earlier this year.

While these encounters can indeed lead to dangerous situations, statistics from the Slovak Nature Conservancy reveal that bear attacks have increased since the year 2000, but only by a modest margin, rising from a single incident in 2001 to a total of 12 reported attacks in 2023.

Preventive Measures vs. Culling

Renowned ecologist Erik Baláž asserts that preventive measures are not only more effective but also more humane than culling bears. He criticizes the ministry for failing to implement adequate strategies to mitigate bear-human conflicts, such as the introduction of bear-proof rubbish bins. Baláž emphasizes, “The best way to avoid problems with bears is to use preventive measures, such as ensuring that they are not attracted to human settlements or protecting livestock with specially trained dogs, as has been practiced in the past.”

The European brown bear was nearly driven to extinction in Slovakia during the 1930s, with estimates suggesting that as few as 20 to 60 bears remained at that time. Today, the ongoing struggle to balance human safety with conservation efforts continues to create a complex and contentious dialogue.