Debate Rises on Bear Conservation Laws in Europe
Recent bear attacks spark debates on the balance between protecting bears and human safety. Calls for revisiting laws to address concerns of countries seeking more rights to manage bear populations.
A team of 14 armed officers, equipped with camera traps, a thermal imaging drone, and a shoot-to-kill order, ventured into the woods earlier this month. Their mission? To track down a fugitive.
However, this fugitive was not a dangerous criminal but a brown bear that had attacked five people in a Slovakian town just 10 days prior. Social media videos captured the terrifying moment when the bear ran through the streets of Liptovský Mikuláš, causing panic among the residents and leading authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Authorities in the town announced on Wednesday in a Facebook post that the bear responsible for the attack had been tracked down and eliminated. However, there are doubts among some people in Slovakia about whether the right bear was targeted.
Wild brown bear populations in Europe have successfully recovered from the threat of extinction, bringing joy to animal conservationists. Despite this positive development, a series of human attacks by bears have sparked debates on whether the current level of protection for the species should be reconsidered. Some countries argue that the laws are too heavily in favor of bears, potentially putting human lives at risk.
Members of the European Parliament wearing t-shirts reading "Restore Nature" take part in a voting session on EU nature restoration law.
Members of the European Parliament wearing t-shirts reading "Restore Nature" take part in a voting session on EU nature restoration law.
Frederick Florin/AFP/Getty Images
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Europe has reached a significant agreement on nature and climate after intense negotiations. The incident in Liptovský Mikuláš occurred shortly after a tragic bear encounter, where a 31-year-old Belarusian tourist lost his life while trying to escape from the animal in Slovakia's Low Tatras mountains, as reported by local media.
Several European Union (EU) countries that support reducing bear protections are bringing their campaign to Brussels, the bloc's headquarters.
On Monday, delegations from Romania, Slovakia, and Finland brought forth a proposal to the EU Environment Council. They are requesting a lower protection status for certain brown bear populations.
EU law currently prohibits the killing of wild bears, except in rare cases like when a bear has harmed a person. Non-compliant countries may face significant fines for breaking this law.
Dealing with bear attacks has been a topic of discussion among some of the 27 EU member countries for a long time. However, countries with strong conservation efforts or those without bear populations may delay the possibility of hunting bears again.
Beehive-looting bears
Romania, Slovakia, and Finland are advocating for some bear populations to be downgraded from "strictly protected" to "protected" status. This proposal is being pushed forward after a series of bear attacks in Slovakia, as mentioned in an information note sent to all EU Environment Council delegations.
Both categories of protection require countries to maintain a "favorable" status, explained John Linnell, a senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research specializing in large carnivore conservation. The main difference lies in the circumstances under which killing animals is allowed. Under the "strictly protected" category, specific reasons must be provided to justify killing an individual animal. However, under the "protected" category, the obligation to justify killing is not as stringent.
What “favorable” means is also debatable.
Slovakia’s Low Tatras mountains, where a 31-year-old Belarusian tourist died earlier this month after trying to run away from a bear.
Slovakia’s Low Tatras mountains, where a 31-year-old Belarusian tourist died earlier this month after trying to run away from a bear.
Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Linnell explained that the concept is not based on strict science, but a combination of numbers, habitats, population trends, and distribution.
Delegations backing the new proposal argue that more flexibility in the rules is necessary, citing the rise in the EU's brown bear population following the implementation of the Habitats Directive in 1992. Once on the brink of extinction in several regions, the bear population in the area is now estimated to range between 15,000 and 16,000.
Supporters of the demotion of the brown bear's status argue that it will not detract from the main goal of the EU's conservation laws. They highlight the impact that these animals are having on their surroundings.
According to a recent information note, the increasing population of brown bears is causing problems for rural communities and livestock farmers. For instance, in Romania, there were 240 reported bear attacks between 2004 and 2021. These interactions between bears and farmers have also led to significant financial losses, amounting to millions of euros.
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Corey Arnold
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Photographer captures animals in urban areas for 'Cities gone wild' project. Some suggest using humane methods, like electric fencing, to prevent bear attacks. Robin Rigg, from the Slovak Wildlife Society, recommends using preventative measures to deter bears from beehives, fruit trees, and livestock.
If a certain bear is causing recurring problems, it can be removed without changing the protection status of the species, as per existing laws.
Studies show that some animals exhibit repetitive conflict behavior, making them more troublesome than others.
In the mid-2000s, a famous example of this phenomenon occurred when a bear named Bruno, also known as Bear JJ1, was discovered raiding beehives and preying on sheep in Germany after being reintroduced as part of a conservation effort.
A bear cub was caught breaking into a bakery.
Many countries at the EU Environment Council meeting on Monday showed support for the proposal. Italy expressed its backing, while Hungary agreed in principle but emphasized the importance of a thorough evaluation beforehand.
Spain highlighted the importance of prioritizing human safety and emphasized the necessity of preventive measures. Meanwhile, Germany pointed out that the current regulations are already sufficient.
Slovakia's delegate tugged at the heartstrings of the delegates by sharing, "Every day, bears roam through our towns. Parents fear for their children's safety on their way to school."
Although the proposal has backing, navigating through the EU's bureaucratic process will be a challenging and lengthy endeavor.
In the end, Linnell pointed out that countries like Ireland, Malta, and Cyprus, which do not have bears, will effectively have the power to veto decisions. He also mentioned that there is no guarantee that the general public will agree with politicians on this issue, even in countries where bears exist.
This scenario unfolded in real time last year in Italy. A bear, originally slated to be euthanized for fatally attacking a 26-year-old woman, was spared after multiple wildlife agencies stepped in to intervene.
In Italy, police started investigating a case where a man shot a female bear that had come onto his property. The bear's cub had gained fame online for wandering the streets, even sneaking into a bakery. The man said he was scared when he shot the bear, but he didn't intend to kill it.
In other parts of the world, the response to bear incidents is not as lenient. In Japan, authorities have offered a reward of $33 to bear trappers for each animal they capture, following a surge in attacks last year.
Some countries are finding it challenging to handle the outcomes of their conservation efforts, according to Linnell. He mentioned that rescuing a species from extinction is only the first step.
Linnell mentioned that dealing with the consequences of successful conservation is a more complex issue. He stated, "Some species will thrive, while others may struggle, and we must be ready to adapt and respond accordingly. This is where my true optimism lies."
Editor's P/S:
The recent incident in Slovakia, where a brown bear was tracked down and killed after attacking five people, has sparked a debate about the balance between human safety and wildlife conservation. While some argue that the current level of protection for bears is too high and puts human lives at risk, others believe that the animal's population recovery should be celebrated.
The fact that three EU countries are proposing to lower the protection status of certain brown bear populations highlights the complexity of managing wildlife in close proximity to human settlements. The issue is further complicated by the fact that the concept of "favorable" conservation status is not based on strict science but on a combination of factors including numbers, habitats, population trends, and distribution. in protection status, citing the impact of bears on rural communities and livestock. However, other countries, particularly those without bear populations, emphasize the importance of maintaining strict conservation measures to prevent the species from declining once again. The outcome of these negotiations will have far-reaching implications for the management of brown bear populations in Europe and will require careful consideration of both conservation goals and human safety concerns.
