Slovakia Approves Serving Culled Bears as Culinary Delicacy

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Controversial Decision in Slovakia: Brown Bear Meat Consumption Allowed

The Slovak government has sparked outrage among environmental advocates by permitting the consumption of brown bear meat. Critics labeled the decision as absurd, claiming it encourages poaching and undermines wildlife protection efforts.

In a move last month, Slovakia’s nationalist administration approved a plan to cull 350 brown bears, justifying the action on the basis of public safety and a growing bear population. Filip Kuffa, a state secretary in the environment ministry, announced on Facebook that the state would sell the culled bears’ meat, stating, "Bear meat is edible."

While brown bears are generally protected across Europe, certain exceptions for hunting exist; countries like Slovenia also permit the consumption of bear meat. Kuffa stated that any bear meat offered for sale must come with a certificate, ensuring the animal was hunted legally.

Marian Hletko, an environmentalist with the initiative We Are Forest, expressed his concerns, calling the government’s decision "absurd." He noted that organizations meant to protect the environment would essentially act as state-run butchers, selling meat from protected species. Hletko warned that this move could lead to increased poaching since it suggests that the government is less committed to preserving bears, resulting in fewer fears of penalties among poachers.

In response to "undesirable" bear encounters following a series of dangerous incidents, the government declared a state of emergency in several districts this past April. Prime Minister Robert Fico emphasized the need for people to feel safe in their own wilderness areas, stating, "We can’t live in a country where people are afraid to go to the woods."

Earlier in May 2024, the Slovak parliament had already relaxed regulations on bear culling, allowing exceptions in multiple districts. However, the country is still bound by an EU directive that limits culling to "problem bears" that threaten property or human safety and only when no alternative solutions exist.

Hletko highlighted that Slovakia recorded the highest number of bear killings in the European Union for its population of 5.4 million, with 92 bears shot in 2024 alone. An additional 52 died in traffic accidents or were poached, while Environment Minister Tomas Taraba noted that the country’s bear population has surpassed 1,300 individuals.