Slovakia to Cull Hundreds of Brown Bears, Sell Meat to Public

Slovakia's Controversial Bear Cull: Meat to be Sold to Prevent Waste In Slovakia, a plan to cull hundreds of brown bears and sell their meat to the public has sparked outrage among conservationists and some politicians. The Slovakian government authorized the plan last month in response to a rise in bear attacks on humans. From 2000 to 2020, the government reported 554 bear attacks, with an average of 10 per year. The plan involves culling approximately 325 bears, about a quarter of the country's estimated brown bear population of 1300. "Bears have become a political issue in Slovakia," explains Sarah Palmer, a BBC journalist. "The rising number of encounters with humans, including fatal attacks, has led to this controversial decision." Critics argue the cull is unnecessary and harms a protected species. The European Parliament has voiced its disapproval of the plan. However, the Slovakian government maintains that selling the meat will prevent waste and address the growing human-wildlife conflict. The decision highlights the complex challenges of balancing conservation efforts with public safety concerns. While the plan remains controversial, the government is moving forward with the cull, emphasizing the need to manage the brown bear population and prevent further incidents. The sale of the meat is presented as a pragmatic solution to avoid waste.