Slovenia to embark on massive bear hunt

Gland, Switzerland – Although one of the first European countries to protect the brown bear, Slovenia is considering increasing hunting quotas for brown bears, an act that may decimate the country's entire population.

The Slovenian government has announced that it will allow a hunting quota of 106 bears in 2007. Add in the number of bears killed each year on roads and railway lines, and the mortality rate jumps to as high as 130 individuals.

“This massive hunt will have dramatic consequences for the species throughout Europe as the bear population in Slovenia is shared with many other countries in the region," said Gerald Dick of WWF's Global Species Programme.

“The population is especially important as it is a source for reintroducing bears into Austria, Italy and France, whose populations are minimal and fragmented,” Dick added.

Before Slovenia joined the European Union, around 50 bears were killed each year by hunters. In 2002, the government drastically increased the quota to 100 individuals. In that year, 116 bears were killed.

The Slovenia government claims there are 500–700 bears in the country. Based on reliable local information, WWF believes the lower estimate is more realistic.

As the quota does not include the large number of road casualties (in 2005, 40 bears were killed on roads), the overall mortality rate of Slovenian bears could be close to 30 per cent of the population. WWF is asking for a clarification of the population size and justification for an official hunting quota of over 20 per cent per year, which is unscientific and unsustainable.

“As Slovenia will take over the EU presidency in early 2008, it should use this opportunity to prove it can be a leader in conservation by applying the EU guidelines on managing large carnivores,” said Dick.

“These guidelines are clearly asking for a population-based type of management, urging countries to cooperate internationally and to perform transparent population estimates. Killing more bears is not the answer.”

A final decision whether the hunt will go ahead is expected shortly by the Slovenian Environment Ministry.

For further information:
Gerald Dick, WWF Global Species Programme
Tel: +43 1 48817 212

Joanna Benn, Communications Manager
WWF Global Species Programme
Tel: +39 06 84497 212