Europe's brown bears face calls for reduced protection

Several European nations are advocating for a reduction in protection for brown bears, labeling them as "super-predators" that pose a threat to humans and livestock. Romania and Slovakia are leading this initiative, supported by Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Finland. They argue that the species requires "effective and urgent management."

These countries are drawing parallels to the recent easing of protection for wolves in the European Union, which shifted from "strictly protected" to "protected." This change facilitates culling. They are calling for a similar approach to brown bears to ensure a "reasonable and balanced level of social and economic risk."

Finland's Agriculture Minister Sari Essayah stated that the country's bear population, nearing 2,600 individuals, presents a threat to humans, necessitating "preventive hunting." Romania reports approximately 11,500 bears, with attacks causing 14 deaths and over 150 serious injuries in the past five years. Slovakia, with about 2,500 bears, has recorded 4 deaths and 64 serious injuries in the same period, alongside significant agricultural losses.

While these five countries cannot change the bear's protection status alone, they aim to persuade other EU states during a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg. France has not yet taken a position on the issue, which has caused divisions among its ministries. Environmental organizations have previously warned against weakening protections for bears, fearing it could lead to reduced protection for other species like lynx and cormorants.