Government Declares State of Emergency in Some Districts over Bear Situation

Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - The government at its session on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in several districts of the country in response to the bear situation, which will come into effect as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday. It also approved the culling of 350 brown bears based on a report by State Nature Conservation (SOP). The state of emergency will apply to the following districts: Turcianske Teplice, Martin, Zilina, Bytca, Kysucke Nove Mesto, Cadca, Namestovo, Tvrdosin, Dolny Kubin, Ruzomberok, Liptovsky Mikulas, Poprad, Kezmarok, Stara Lubovna, Sabinov, Levoca, Presov, Bardejov, Svidnik, Stropkov, Vranou nad Toplou, Humenne, Medzilaborce, Snina, Spisska Nova Ves, Roznava, Gelnica, Kosice-okolie, Kosice I, Kosice II, Kosice III, Kosice IV, Brezno, Revuca, Rimavska Sobota, Poltar, Lucenec, Detva, Velky Krtis, Krupina, Zvolen, Banska Bystrica, Ziar nad Hronom, Banska Stiavnica, Zarnovica, Topolcany, Zlate Moravce, Levice, Povazska Bystrica, Puchov, Ilava, Prievidza, Partizanske, Banovce nad Bebravou and Trencin. "The purpose of this measure is to carry out an extraordinary cull of brown bears in selected districts of Slovakia so that people's lives and health are protected as much as possible," stated the Environment Ministry. Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said that the government has made a sensitive but correct decision. "I agree with the cabinet members who say that we can't live in a country in which people will be afraid to go into the forests and where humans will become food for bears. The intensity of bear attacks is radically increasing, and we are in a period during which bears should be resting," said Fico, adding that this summer could be a bad one in terms of bear attacks. ko/df