Slovenia Joins EU Push to Lower Bear Protection Status Amid Coexistence Concerns

Slovenia has joined a European initiative to reduce the protection status of bears, arguing that the brown bear population is no longer under control and coexistence is impossible. Agriculture Minister Janez Cigler Kralj announced the country's support for Romania's proposal during a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Luxembourg.

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In Slovenia too, the brown bear population is not under control and coexistence with it is no longer possible. Human lives and health, property, livestock, and small livestock in rural areas, thus farmers and their farm animals, are endangered. We must stop this.

Cigler Kralj explained that the situation in Slovenia, while not as dire as in Romania, still poses significant risks. "Human lives and health, property, livestock, and small livestock in rural areas, thus farmers and their farm animals, are endangered. We must stop this," he stated, emphasizing the need for action.

The ministry further clarified that Slovenia, despite having one of the highest brown bear densities in Europe, a conservation success, faces growing societal challenges. Cigler Kralj advocated for a comprehensive approach, including prevention, swift action against problematic individuals, and active population management within EU directives. He stressed that bear management is now a matter of public safety, agricultural protection, and rural coexistence, not just nature conservation.

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Slovenia is a country with one of the highest densities of brown bears in Europe, which is both a conservation success and an increasing social challenge.

Romania and Slovakia highlighted that their countries host over half of Europe's bear population. They reported approximately 11,500 bears in Romania and at least 2,500 in Slovakia. In the past five years, bear attacks in Romania resulted in 14 deaths and over 150 severe injuries, while Slovakia recorded four deaths and 64 severe injuries. Both nations warned of significant economic damage to the agricultural sector, with over 1,800 domestic animals killed in Romania and over 500 in Slovakia between 2023 and 2025 due to large carnivores. They argue that effective species management is crucial as brown bears lack natural predators.

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We must advocate for a comprehensive and balanced approach that includes prevention, rapid action on problematic individuals, and clear and legally sustainable active population management within the framework of the EU Habitat Directive.