Sweden's licensed bear hunt, targeting nearly 500 brown bears, faces backlash from conservationists who argue it's more about "macho prestige" than population control.
Sweden's annual licensed bear hunt, set to begin on August 21, has ignited a heated debate between conservationists and hunters. With the government authorizing the killing of 486 brown bears—approximately 20% of the wild population—campaigners argue that this so-called "trophy hunt" is more about "macho prestige" than about maintaining a sustainable bear population.
The Numbers Behind the Hunt
The Swedish government’s approval to cull nearly 500 bears has raised concerns among conservationists who point to the species’ protected status under the European Union's Habitats Directive. While Sweden's bear population has rebounded from near extinction in the early 20th century to around 3,000 today, the country’s bear defenders argue that this success is now at risk.
"We cannot continue to shoot this many bears if we want to maintain a stable population," warns Jonas Kindberg, leader of the Scandinavian Bear Research Project. The bear population, which peaked at 3,300 in 2008, has already seen a decline to 2,450 after last year’s hunt. Kindberg and other conservationists fear that continued aggressive hunting could have long-lasting detrimental effects on the species, with some predicting a drop to just 1,400 bears—the minimum number necessary for conservation purposes.
The Rationale for the Hunt
Swedish authorities argue that the hunt is necessary to keep the bear population at a manageable level, particularly in areas where bears are seen as a threat to livestock, crops, and even reindeer in the northern parts of the country. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) explains that the hunt, including "protective hunting," is carried out to prevent serious damage to property and livestock.
In 2023, a total of 648 bears were shot during licensed hunts, with an additional 74 killed in protective hunts. The agency insists that the hunts are conducted under strictly supervised conditions, in compliance with EU regulations, which allow limited hunting of protected species under certain conditions.
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Conservationists Push Back
Despite these official justifications, many campaigners remain unconvinced. Critics argue that the hunt is less about population control and more about satisfying hunters’ desires for a "trophy." Staffan Widstrand, a nature photographer and co-founder of Wild Wonders of Europe, believes that the hunt is driven by a desire among hunters to eliminate competitors—namely bears—from their pursuit of more favored game like moose and elk.
Widstrand and others argue that alternative solutions, such as promoting bear tourism and implementing preventive measures to reduce human-wildlife conflicts, have been successful in other countries, like Finland. These measures could allow Sweden to coexist with a larger bear population without resorting to large-scale culling.
Is Sweden Violating EU Law?
The brown bear’s status as a strictly protected species within the EU has led to questions about the legality of Sweden's bear hunts. Under the EU’s Habitats Directive, deliberate killing of protected species is prohibited, though exceptions are allowed under certain circumstances.
Campaigners are increasingly vocal in their opposition to these exceptions, arguing that they are being misused to justify what they see as unnecessary and harmful hunts. The European Commission has already opened an infringement case against Sweden over its licensed wolf hunts, and a formal complaint was lodged earlier this year regarding the country’s treatment of lynxes. Sweden’s Big Five, a carnivore protection project, is preparing a formal complaint about the bear hunts as well.
The Future of Sweden’s Bears
As the annual bear hunt kicks off, the debate over Sweden’s approach to managing its bear population is far from settled. While hunters and government officials argue that the hunts are necessary for population control and property protection, conservationists warn that they could reverse decades of progress in brown bear conservation.
As Sweden faces growing scrutiny from both domestic and international observers, the future of its bear population—and its approach to wildlife management—hangs in the balance.
Source: Euronews
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