Sweden Begins Controversial Hunt to Cull Nearly 500 Brown Bears
On August 21, Sweden commenced a controversial hunting season aimed at culling almost 500 brown bears, representing 20% of the country’s bear population.
This annual licensed hunt has sparked outrage among environmental activists, who argue that the move is driven more by “macho pride” than genuine ecological concerns.
The licensed hunt and its impact
The hunting season, which will continue until October 15, allows for the killing of 486 brown bears. This has raised significant alarm among conservationists, who warn that decades of conservation efforts to protect the species could be undone. Sweden’s brown bear population, which had once been driven to near extinction, has gradually recovered due to strict protective measures introduced in 1927. By 2008, the population peaked at around 3,300 bears, but following the licensed hunt of 2023, their numbers dropped to 2,450.
Environmental activists’ concerns
Activists argue that this hunting spree could have devastating long-term effects on the brown bear population, which is a strictly protected species within the European Union. Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Carnivore Association, criticized the hunt, suggesting alternative ways to coexist with the bears, such as preventive measures to avoid damage and capitalizing on the tourism potential of bear watching, as successfully demonstrated by Finland.
Sweden’s Big Five, a conservation group, accused the government of aiming to reduce the bear population to 1,400—the minimum number required for conservation purposes. This would represent a drastic 60% decrease from the population’s peak in 2008. Jonas Kindberg, leader of the Scandinavian Bear Research Project, emphasized the risks associated with the hunt, noting that brown bears are slow to mature, with females giving birth to only a few cubs every two to three years. The indiscriminate nature of the hunt, where hunters struggle to distinguish between males and females, could severely impact the population’s recovery.
Official stance and additional hunting allowances
In addition to the licensed hunts, Sweden also permits the killing of brown bears under “protective” hunts if they are deemed a threat to property or life. Last year, a total of 648 bears were killed during the licensed hunting season, with an additional 74 bears killed in protective hunts.
The decision to cull such a significant portion of the brown bear population has sparked a heated debate in Sweden, with conservationists and activists calling for more sustainable and non-lethal approaches to managing the bear population.