The Brown Bear Intervention Team of the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic (SNC SR) killed a trouble-making brown bear near Demänovská dolina municipality in the area controlled by the Low Tatras National Park Administration in the early hours of today. Insufficiently secured municipal waste in this popular tourist area caused the bear to irreversibly change its behaviour and thus, due to the danger the bear represented for local residents and visitors alike, the SNC SR Intervention Team proceeded to remove it from the bear population.

During monitoring and patrol activities, the Brown Bear Intervention Team was aware of the presence this bear in Demänovská dolina. The bear had been visiting the municipality for some time in order to search for food in unsecured municipal waste bins. Although the waste bins used in the village have been partially secured by the municipal authorities, the owners of many private accommodation and recreational facilities have not properly secured their waste, despite the warnings from the SNC SR Brown Bear Intervention Team or the Slovak Environmental Inspectorate.

As a result, the young 3-year-old and 80 kg heavy male bear had gotten used to easily available food and the proximity of people, and it did not react to the efforts to scare it away with light and sound devices. Based on the monitoring activities, the bear’s behaviour was assessed as demonstrably dangerous and posing a threat to the health and life of people residing or moving in the given locations. The bear was euthanised by a veterinarian and its body and relevant documentation were handed over to the local hunting association.

Placing the problem bear in a nursery was not an option in this case, as it was accustomed to living free in the wild and its adaptation to artificially created conditions in captivity would not have been possible.

In this context, we find it important to mention the currently open call of the Environmental Fund, which allows municipalities to apply for subsidies for preventive measures taken to avoid the damages caused by brown bears. The Environmental Fund is accepting applications for subsidies to secure bin stands against access by brown bears until 16 August 2023. Project activities such as the purchase, construction and securing of municipal waste stands and containers, as well as the acquisition of electric fencing or other forms of fencing or structures will be supported. Effective preventive measures have been proven to help the coexistence of humans and large carnivores.

Additional information:

• Pursuant to Section 65a (5) of Act No. 543/2002 Coll. on Nature and Landscape Protection, as subsequently amended, the SNC SR is authorised to ensure the hazing, catching or killing of protected animals whose behaviour outside their natural habitat poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of the inhabitants of municipalities. The killing of a specific problem bear specimens prevents the occurrence of dangerous human-bear encounters in which there is a demonstrable risk of endangering human health and life.
• Nationwide, the SNC SR Brown Bear Intervention Team cares for the population of the protected species of brown bear (Ursus arctos), which includes the elimination of specific (identified) problem brown bears from the population by means of euthanasia.

For more information about the activities of the SNC SR Intervention Team, go to https://zasahovytim.sopsr.sk/.

This press release was prepared by the Department of Communication and Promotion of the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic.