More than 150 brown bears were killed during the first days of Sweden's annual hunt for the animals. At the same time, nature conservationists condemn such a mass shooting, point out that it is a "slaughter" and warn about the threat of the Scandinavian population of brown bears.
The Swedish government issued 486 permits to kill bears in this year's hunt, which is equivalent to a fifth of the remaining brown bear population. Last year, a record shooting was recorded with 722 bears killed.
By Thursday afternoon, which was the second day of the hunt, 152 bears had already been killed, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
Hunting has become the focus of growing controversy in that Scandinavian country, and this year the police followed hunters for the first time in anticipation of local protests, reports RTS.
Magnus Orebrant, president of the Swedish Carnivore Association, a wildlife protection group, said modern hunting methods make killing bears extremely easy, which could be compared to "pure slaughter".
Officers are patrolling the forests on foot and monitoring the situation with the help of drones to ensure the "peaceful progress of hunters" after public tensions and possible protests over the increased number of bear hunting licenses.
"We felt it was necessary for the hunters to be safe and do their job during this year's bear hunt," said Joakim Lundqvist, police and wildlife coordinator for northern Sweden, adding that they decided to take such a step after the appearance of protesters over the hunt. lynxes and wolves, earlier this year.
100 years ago bears were on the verge of extinction
Bears were hunted almost to extinction in Sweden a century ago, but their number gradually increased and reached its peak in 2008 with 3.300 individuals. During the following years, their number was reduced by 40 percent to around 2.400.
If the hunters continue at a similar pace, next year the population of brown bears could be close to the minimum 1.400 individuals, which the Swedish government considers necessary to maintain the population.
Over the past two years, Sweden has removed hundreds of wolves, lynxes and bears, and last year's hunt broke modern records for the number of animals killed.
During 2023, the largest wolf hunt in modern times was organized, with the aim of shooting 75 individuals from an endangered population that numbered only 460 wolves.
Scandinavian bear population in danger if hunting continues
Environmentalists are concerned that unless something changes, poaching could have ramifications across the region.
Earlier this month, Norwegian environmental groups appealed to Swedish authorities in some border regions not to issue permits to kill bears, arguing that they threaten brown bear populations in both countries. The appeals did not bear fruit.
Brown bears are a strictly protected species in Europe, and conservationists argue that high hunting quotas could breach the EU's habitats directive, which prohibits "deliberate hunting or killing of strictly protected species".
Under EU rules, this ban can only be lifted as a "last resort" to protect public safety, crops or natural flora and fauna.
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