Yesterday, a working group for the management of large carnivores in the Slovak Republic, focused on the management of the brown bear, met at the Ministry of the Environment. The goal of the negotiations was to achieve effective and intensive cooperation of all organizations, which can reduce the risks of human-bear collisions through joint actions. At the meeting of the working group, representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, Department of Agriculture, Defense, municipalities, farmers, beekeepers, conservationists, intervention teams, hunters and other actors were represented.

“The Ministry of the Environment considers it necessary to strengthen cooperation between all concerned organizations and entities. Thanks to joint efforts, we can strengthen the ability to act when dealing with specific problem individuals. At the same time, operationalize preventive measures that minimize the number of bears in or near cities and towns,” declared Peter Maňka, director general of the nature protection and biodiversity section of the Slovak Ministry of the Environment.

At the working group, the detailed results of the study of the number of bears were presented and the activities of the extended intervention team were presented. The Ministry received valuable information and suggestions from the representatives of individual affected actors, examples from practice and preliminary proposals for possible solutions.

Another topic discussed was the issue of updating the Brown Bear Care Program. Representatives of farmers emphasized the need for financial support for preventive measures to protect farm animals from predators.

The expansion of the working group is one of the steps taken by the Ministry of the Environment to improve the cooperation of the affected entities. The goal is to streamline measures in relation to the management of the brown bear population, minimize clashes with residents and reduce damage to farm animals.

The department is also continuing with other preventive measures that will help systematically deal with the occurrence of brown bears in the vicinity of homes. Through funds from OPKŽP and the Environmental Fund, it supports several preventive measures, including the purchase, construction and provision of municipal waste stands and containers for municipalities, as well as the procurement of electric fences or other forms of fencing or structures.

In addition to prevention, the Ministry of the Environment is intensively dedicated to strengthening the ability of the intervention team to respond to specific problem individuals, while also welcoming the improvement of cooperation and cooperation with municipalities and local hunting associations. According to the department, it is necessary to increase personnel capacities, which will be able to intervene against specific problem bears in a short reaction time.