Greenpeace: Environment Ministry Putting Killing Bears before Scientific Proof

Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - The Environment Ministry is prioritising killing bears over scientific evidence, Greenpeace Slovakia spokesperson Miroslava Abelova told TASR in response to the government's approval of emergency measures against the brown bear population on Wednesday, adding that the ministry is undermining efforts to protect the countryside in Slovakia and threatening the ecological integrity of the broader Carpathian region. "Bears are primarily found in the mountainous areas of central and northern Slovakia, with a population in the Eastern Carpathians ... Conflicts often arise due to unsealed waste bins, food scraps and feeding stations — all factors that the country must immediately address appropriately," she stated. According to her, bears can be effectively deterred by implementing proven non-lethal measures, such as using chemicals, rubber projectiles and trained dogs. Abelova also pointed out that despite repeated warnings from scientists, including a letter from last year outlining measures to prevent conflicts, Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (an SNS nominee) has ignored expert recommendations. According to her, instead of addressing the issue, he is exploiting the issue of bears in order to deepen the polarisation of Slovak society. Greenpeace is calling for the establishment of the largest international park in Europe, which would protect the last patches of wilderness in the Carpathians. According to the spokesperson, this cross-border initiative would help to prevent conflicts and ensure that bear management policies align with EU legislation. It would also strengthen efforts to protect nature across national borders. The government has declared a state of emergency due to the presence of bears in 55 districts, effective as of 2 p.m. on April 2. It also approved the culling of 350 brown bears based on a report by State Nature Conservation (SOP). lin/df