One of the first European countries to protect the brown bear, Slovenia, now threatens to start one of the biggest hunts of all time and decimate its bear population through an unscientific and unsustainable kill.
Action is urgently needed as the hunting season will reach its peak in only a few weeks time.
Before Slovenia joined the European Union (EU) around 50 bears were killed each year by hunters. But in 2002, the government drastically increased the quota to 100 individuals. However, following international protests and criticism by neighbouring countries and the EU, the quota was reduced in subsequent years.
But now the government has once again announced that it will increase the hunting quota to 100 bears. This is in addition to many that are killed each year on roads and railway lines.
Supporters of the hunt claim that quota needs to be increased because of damage to farming caused by bears and the risk to local communities. But killing more bears is not the answer and jeopardizes existing conservation programmes.
Urge him instead to work with neighbouring countries to establish a sustainable bear management system in the region that protects the bear as well as the livelihoods of local people.
(Via WWF Passport)
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