Brown bear as a delicacy: Slovakia allows bear meat in restaurants!

Brown bear as a delicacy: Slovakia allows bear meat in restaurants!

A controversial decision is made in Slovakia: from now on, kept brown bears can be served in restaurants. Environmental State Secretary Filip Kuffa announced this regulation, which is considered an answer to the previous destruction of the carcasses, which he described as a waste. Kuffa explained that every animal killed, which meets certain criteria, is released for consumption, since bear meat is considered edible. Sub -organizations of the Ministry of the Environment have already started to award licenses for resale to restaurants, whereby retailers have to apply for certificates in order to demonstrate the legal origin of the meat.

This proposal met with severe criticism, including from the liberal opposition MP Tamara Stohlova. Around 1,200 free -living bears live in Slovakia, which are basically protected all year round. Shooting is only allowed under certain conditions, especially if bears endanger people. In recent years there have been several incidents where bears met people, some of them with serious consequences. Most recently, a 49-year-old man was seriously injured by a bear on a company premises.

increase in bear attacks

This problem is not new: Brown bears are increasingly spreading in Slovakia and there were several reports of attacks on people. Tomas Mozol was attacked by a bear while hiking and had to be treated in the hospital. In the northern Slovak city of Liptovsky Mikula, five people were treated according to bear attacks. The pressure on the government to combat these dangers has increased, so that an aggressive Bavarian bear was tracked down and shot a week later after an attack.

In May 2024, 16 bears were killed in Slovakia within just 17 days. The new government under Prime Minister Robert Fico has relaxed the rules for the shooting of bears in the quick procedure, which ensures outrage. Recydration experts contradict the assertion of an overpopulation of bears and state that the number of around 1,300 animals is stable. However, there are reports of improper use of dumpers and illegal bait positions that tighten the conflicts between humans and bears.

criticism of the government

The incumbent government has made fun of dealing with bears about educational measures and in surveys more than two thirds of the bears surveyed consider a great danger. This topic was also central to the election campaign and was taken up by Fico as a political issue. After an assassination attempt on him, he mocked critical media and the opposition during a cabinet session. Future political measures could also include NGOs' explanation as foreign agents and changes in the right to vote.

Outside of Slovakia, various projects show how bear protection can be promoted in Europe. Especially in the Balkans, where brown bears find retreat areas, but are threatened by inbreeding, the management of large prey meat was improved by commitment to organizations such as Euronatur. Measures are continuously recommended to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and bears. Such initiatives show that it is possible to develop a responsible handling of large predators, even if the challenges are often politically unstable and geographically complex.