A zoo in Czechia has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, accusing Slovakia of violating EU laws through the controlled culling of brown bears.
The practice, according to the management of Tábor Zoo located in the Czech South Bohemian Region, contravenes European wildlife protection statutes, and the zoo argues that these measures are needlessly endangering the bear population.
Evžen Korec, the zoo’s director, stated in a press release that hunters in Slovakia have already culled 86 brown bears this year and may kill an additional 100 by year-end, citing Slovakian environmental policies that permit this practice.
“The brown bear is a protected species within the European Union and is part of Annex II to the Bern Convention, i.e., the Convention on the Protection of European Fauna, Flora and Natural Habitats. Slovakia has decided to ignore European legislation,” he said.
Slovakia insists it is grappling with an ongoing issue of bear overpopulation, particularly in the Tatra Mountains, where frequent human-bear encounters have raised public safety concerns. Just this month, an incident in Liptovský Mikuláš saw a 55-year-old Slovak fatally attacked by a bear while picking mushrooms, marking the second fatal bear encounter in recent years.
In March, a 31-year-old Belarusian tourist died in Demänovská Valley after a bear reportedly chased her, though her fatal injuries were from a fall amid the panic rather than a direct attack.
The Slovak parliament has enacted measures allowing bear culling under specific conditions. Permits may be issued to eliminate bears if their presence threatens human life, public health, property, or agriculture. However, an emergency declaration is required to authorize the controlled hunting of “problem” bears in specific areas, a measure the Czech zoo director believes is being used too liberally.
Korec contends that Slovakia’s approach disregards EU environmental legislation designed to safeguard protected species. He highlighted the substantial EU funding allocated to preserve endangered species like the brown bear, questioning Slovakia’s compliance with the rules.
The European Commission is expected to address the complaint in the coming weeks.
