The Environment Ministry has launched military-assisted bear monitoring in the High and Low Tatras following a deadly bear attack. The government approved the culling of 350 bears, citing rising bear populations and increased human-bear conflicts. However, experts criticize the figure as arbitrary and politically motivated, lacking scientific backing. The experts say that no current data justify such a drastic measure. Genetic studies estimate 1,000–1,275 bears in Slovakia, but the ministry claims over 2,500 based on outdated methods.
According to Soňa Mäkká from Denník N, despite EU laws protecting bears, the ministry argues the situation demands population control. Critics warn this may violate European legislation, which only permits targeted removals of problem individuals. Conservationists question why guidelines do not ban shooting lactating females or require field inspections after kills. The involvement of the army in bear monitoring, with unclear roles and no hunting ammo assigned, has raised more questions. Plans for annual culling quotas based on future data collection are in development, but experts call the current approach unscientific and legally questionable.
Source: TASR, Denník N
