Slovakia is set to allow the sale of Brown Bear meat for the first time following a government decision to cull a quarter of the country’s estimated 1,300-strong bear population.
The move has sparked criticism from conservationists and European lawmakers, who warn it could breach EU protections for the species.
The Slovak environment ministry confirmed that, starting in mid-June, meat from bears killed under the state-authorised cull may be sold, provided all hygiene and legal standards are met. State Secretary Filip Kuffa defended the decision, calling it wasteful to dispose of edible animals.
Slovakia has approved the same of Brown Bear meat (Sharp Photography).
Controversial cull
“Bear meat is edible. If the animal meets the conditions for consumption, it will be released for sale,” he said.
The cull was announced in April following a fatal bear attack in central Slovakia. Prime Minister Robert Fico said up to 350 bears would be shot, citing public safety concerns. Slovakia has seen an increase in bear-human encounters, with an average of 10 attacks annually in recent years.
Critics argue that the government is ignoring EU conservation laws and failing to pursue preventative measures. Ecologist and MEP Michal Wiezik called the plan “absurd”, while Greenpeace Slovakia labelled it “completely reckless”.
Brown Bear is a protected species under EU law and may only be killed under strict conditions. The meat, considered a delicacy in some Eastern European regions, must be tested for Trichinella parasites before sale.