Bear attacks in Slovakia: Government plans drastic measures!

Bear attacks in Slovakia: Government plans drastic measures!

Conflicts between humans and bears are increasing in Slovakia, which has led to a significant increase in bear attacks. Exactly today, May 24, 2025, a man was attacked by a bear while hiking and had to be treated in hospital. These incidents are worrying the population, especially in regions such as the northern Slovakian town of Liptovsky Mikulas, where five people have already received medical treatment after similar attacks. Local authorities have therefore mobilized a special operations team and hunters to find a mother bear that could be responsible for the attack. The search is carried out using drones and thermal imaging cameras. The local administration has asked the population to avoid the area around the affected company area for the time being. According to Kleine Zeitung, there are an estimated 1,200 wild bears in Slovakia that usually avoid people.

However, dangerous encounters do occur, especially when mother bears protect their cubs. In recent years, some such clashes have turned fatal. Recent reports have shown that the number of human-bear encounters increased from 650 in 2020 to approximately 1,900 in 2024. The increase in these incidents has prompted the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico to take drastic measures. Fico emphasizes that the safety of citizens is the top priority, which justifies government measures to hunt “problem bears.” It was only in April 2025 that a decision was made to shoot up to 350 of these bears, while 23 bears have already been killed with the support of the army. In this context, environmental organizations criticize the approach as disproportionate, as the brown bear is protected all year round in Slovakia.

Political agenda and social impact

The killing of bears became a central issue in Slovakia's political discourse. In particular, the new government under Prime Minister Fico used the bear issue as a strategic element in its election campaign. Over two thirds of the population now see bears as a major danger. That has created a deep rift between environmentalists and the government, which scoffs at educational efforts on responsible bear care, while environmental experts like Michal Haring see the bear population as stable and not problematic.

Fico mocked critical media and the opposition during a cabinet meeting and highlighted his actions against the bears as part of his political agenda. The whole thing is happening against the background that the EU Commission is examining the government's emergency declaration, which was issued to facilitate hunting permits in two thirds of the country. Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba has already promised to remove attractors that attract bears and to establish rules of conduct for dealing with bears in order to avoid further conflicts.

Criticism and possible consequences

Environmentalists are concerned about the health risks posed to the bears by illegal baiting sites, which not only increase animal suffering but also lead to an increase in conflict. Studies from Romania, where the shooting rate was doubled to 500 animals after fatal bear attacks, also show that drastic measures do not necessarily improve the development of wild animal populations. The brown bear is considered a strictly protected species under the EU directive, and the Slovak government's measures are under close observation.

Overall, Slovak society and its government are at a critical turning point. Ensuring public safety must be taken into account just as much as protecting nature and animals. The balancing act between these demands is becoming increasingly challenging due to current events and political decisions.