From Protected to Plated: Carpathian Bears Face Grim Fate

Michal Haring: Wild animals do not recognize national borders.

Can you explain why you consider the widespread culling of bears to be an inadequate solution?

Michal Haring: We consider the culling of bears to be inadequate mainly because it is not a systemic solution for the coexistence of humans and bears in the same territory. Culling does not lead to a reduction in conflicts. It can even disrupt the structure of the entire population, where large, dominant males are missing, creating space for younger, less experienced bears that are more likely to come into conflict with humans.

We propose solutions based on science, research, and relevant data. Such solutions include preventive measures, public awareness and education, and, if necessary, the targeted elimination of individuals that threaten the health and safety of residents.

Have you considered cooperation with foreign partners in addressing this issue?

M.H.: Yes, this cooperation is very important, as bears and other wild animals do not recognize national borders. I have been working on the topic of human-bear coexistence for more than 17 years and actively communicate with experts from Poland, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Romania, Scandinavia, the Czech Republic, and the USA.

Their experience and studies show that effective solutions require a combination of science, research, public education, and not full-fledged bear hunting as the only management measure. In terms of international cooperation, I would like to highlight our collaboration with colleagues from Romania, where, for example, bear-proof trash containers from Slovakia were placed in the village of Baile-Tusnad.

What role do you think the government should play in resolving tense situations involving bears?

M.H.: The government should always play a key role in resolving human-bear issues. However, it is very important that the state acts on the basis of expert analysis and consultation with experts on the issue, rather than on the basis of emotions and the prospect of political gain. The brown bear has become a political issue in Slovakia.

At the same time, the state should have a clear plan for effectively reducing conflicts between humans and bears, supporting municipalities in preventive measures, and establishing a professional intervention team composed of experts. Currently, none of this is being implemented in Slovakia. There is a lack of strategy and political will to address the problem comprehensively.

In your opinion, are there countries in Europe that have managed to deal with a similar situation better than Slovakia?

M.H.: Yes. Examples of good practice can be found in Romania, Poland and the US. These and other countries show that with effective cooperation between key actors (stakeholders), it is possible to resolve conflict situations without resorting to the shooting of brown bears.

What cross-border impact could the shooting of bears in Slovakia have on populations in other Central European countries?

M.H.: As I mentioned earlier, bears do not recognize borders. This is not a Slovak but a Carpathian brown bear population. Unprofessional interventions in Slovakia can have a direct impact on the genetic diversity and stability of subpopulations in Poland, Ukraine, or Romania. For this reason, European and global experts on bear issues decided to write a letter to the European Commission and our ministry expressing their concern about the procedures in Slovakia.

What is your position on the plan to allow the sale of meat from shot bears to restaurants?

M.H.: We consider this cynical and unacceptable. With this decision, the Slovak Ministry of the Environment is turning a protected species and symbol of the Carpathian wilderness into a mere commodity.

We see this proposal as just another attempt to normalize widespread trophy hunting of bears, which does nothing to solve the real problems.

In April, you drew attention to the problem with trapping devices. How do you perceive their use in the field?

M.H.: Trapping devices are an effective tool for working with bears with altered behavior when used professionally. Under the current leadership of the Slovak Ministry of the Environment, the State Nature Conservation Agency, and the brown bear intervention teams themselves, the issue of expertise and ethics is more than debatable.

We have published several videos and evidence of completely unethical treatment of brown bears, such as a bloodstained capture device or highly unprofessional shooting, in which the Intervention Team left the animal to suffer in pain.