The Ministry of Environment, led by Tomáš Taraba (SNS), has granted exemptions for the hunting of nearly 50 bears in early 2025, using new legislation that allows hunting associations to request these exemptions without public or NGO involvement. The exemptions apply when a state of emergency is declared in a district. Despite European legislation limiting bear hunting to problem individuals posing a risk to property and safety, Slovakia has practically initiated a mass culling of bears, which may endanger the population. Conservationists argue this could lead to EU sanctions for non-compliance. They are challenging these decisions in court, with some already being overturned.
In 2024, 144 bears were killed, including nearly 100 by state conservationists and hunters. Environmental groups highlight that the bear population is fragmented into isolated parts, which makes overhunting dangerous. The Ministry allowed the killing of 49 bears, including 31 in 2025, and several other requests are under review. However, the trend of allowing large numbers of kills has raised alarms. Conservationists question whether these exemptions are based on concrete evidence of harm, as many of the approved killings appear to be for general nuisance bears, not actual threats. This practice risks violating EU rules and undermining bear conservation efforts.
Source: Dennik N
