In a surprising move, the government of Slovakia has given the green light to sell brown bear meat to the public. This decision aims to reduce the number of brown bears attacking people in the country. The plan allows for the culling of around 350 bears, about a quarter of the country’s total bear population.
Slovakia’s Environment Ministry says it makes no sense to waste the meat of the culled bears. The bears can be a threat to public safety, and selling their meat could help reduce the population. Brown bear meat is edible, although it’s not commonly consumed in Europe.
Brown bears are protected by EU law and are listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. They can only be killed if they pose a threat to public safety and there are no other safe alternatives.
However, the plan has been met with strong criticism from conservationists and opposition politicians. They argue that the plan is pointless and won’t reduce the number of bear attacks on humans. The EU might intervene in this matter.
Slovakia has the second-highest number of brown bears in Europe, after Romania. Between 2000 and 2020, there were 54 reported bear attacks in the country. In recent years, encounters with bears have increased by around 10 per year.
The move has also been condemned by environmental groups. Greenpeace Slovakia says the plan ignores scientific advice and breaks EU conservation laws. The group warns that the government is taking a serious risk by allowing the culling of protected animals.
Source: BBC