The T\u00e1bor Zoo in Czechia is raising alarms over Slovakia\u2019s controversial decision to ease restrictions on the controlled shooting of bears. The zoo has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission, arguing that Slovakia\u2019s actions violate laws meant to protect endangered species.<\/p>\n
Ev\u017een Korec, director of T\u00e1bor Zoo, expressed his outrage in a statement to POLITICO. \u201cIt is not surprising that Slovakia has gone the way of the Middle Ages, when it was common to shoot everything that moved in the forest and [that] was just a little bit hairier than a man of that time,\u201d Korec said, condemning the decision as \u201cbarbaric.\u201d<\/p>\n
He emphasized that the brown bear is one of the European Union\u2019s most protected species and that Slovakia is undermining critical Conservation efforts.<\/p>\n
Slovakia revised its bear hunting regulations in May. The changes allow the government to declare emergencies and issue exemptions more quickly, justifying bear shootings to protect citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were able to solve a major legal problem that prevented the shooting of a bear even in cases where there has not yet been an attack on a person,\u201d Slovak Environment Minister Tom\u00e1\u0161 Taraba stated. The new rules prioritize preventive measures to ensure the safety of people and property.<\/p>\n
However, these regulations conflict with EU protections, which mandate evidence of \u201cproblematic\u201d behavior before issuing kill licenses. Although Taraba claimed that the European Commission had supported Slovakia\u2019s legislative adjustments, the Commission refuted this claim.<\/p>\n
Bear-related issues have become a heated topic in Slovak politics, especially with upcoming elections. The far-right Slovak National Party, to which Minister Taraba belongs, has criticized EU environmental laws, portraying them as out of touch with local needs.<\/p>\n
Despite debates, the Slovak Environment Ministry plans to issue approximately 100 bear-shooting licenses by year-end, and 86 bears have already been killed.<\/p>\n