The Slovak government has decided to allow the consumption of brown bear meat, annoying environmentalists, who on Wednesday slammed the move as absurd and promoted predators.
Slovakia’s nationalist government last month approved the relocation of 350 bears, which increased the threat to people and the bear population.
Philip Cafa, a state secretary of the Ministry of Environment, said that this week will offer animals for state resale, “because bear meat is food”.
Brown bears are protected in Europe, but hunting is permitted in many countries, including Slovenia, and the resulting meat is consumed.
Kaf said that the bear meat should have a certificate before being sold in the market, proving that the animal was hunted in compliance with the exemption from protection.
Environmentalist Marian Hlatco told AFP that the decision was “absurd” on Wednesday, as meat will be offered by organisations of the Ministry of Environment.
“Organisations designed to protect nature will be converted into state-operated butcheries offering protected animals’ meat,” we are; we are from the Forest Initiative.
He said that it would also promote poaching: “When the state is not interested in protecting the bears, the predators will be less worried about potential sanctions”.
The government declared an emergency due to the presence of “undesirable” bears in most Slovak districts in April, following deadly attacks.
Prime Minister Robert Fico said, “We cannot live in a country where people are afraid of going into the forest.”
The Slovak Parliament reduced the rules for bears in May 2024, allowing exemptions in many districts.
But the country should follow the instructions of the European Union, which only allow the problem to attack property or people and only if there is no other solution.
Halletco said a record-high 92 bears of 5.4 million people in the European Union member country in 2024 were shot, while 52 bears were killed in accidents or by predators.
Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba recently stated that the Slovak bear population exceeds 1,300 animals.
