Slovakia’s government has approved the culling of 350 bears, citing the threat they pose to human safety.
Prime Minister Robert Fico said the measure was necessary due to the increasing number of bear encounters with humans, which often end disastrously. “We cannot live in a country where people are afraid to enter the woods,” Fico stressed.
European regulations permit the killing of bears only if they attack humans or damage property. Activists argue that the Slovak government’s decision violates both international and European agreements. They suggest there are better ways to prevent bear attacks, such as through education.
Approximately 1,300 bears live in the wild in Slovakia. They generally avoid humans unless startled. Dangerous situations can also arise when mother bears feel their cubs are threatened.
In recent years, there have been occasional incidents between bears and humans. In early October 2024, a mushroom picker died after encountering a brown bear. Last Sunday, the remains of a man, likely killed by a bear, were found in a forest.
