The brown bear is the largest European beast, the king of our forests, most commonly found in the High and Low Tatras, the Little and the Great Fatra and the Muráň Plain. According to the census of 2015, there are 1240 bears in Slovakia, which is too much according to the hunters and not so much according to the environmentalist. During the season, there are some rare conflicts between bears and visitors to national parks. This rises the requirements on shooting of bears, supported by hunters and part of mayors and hoteliers. Chief of municipal police in the High Tatras said: "We asked to shoot 20 bears, because they are overpopulated, in the cadaster of our city there are about 130 bears. But only shootings of two bears have been allowed, of those 2 bears which visit the urban areas most frequently." Why are the visits of bears to human settlements and tourist facilities more frequent? Zuzana Kaliska of the Low Tatras National Park Administration says that the biggest problems with bears are created by people. The worst situation is in the locations with waste containers not secured against opening. For the bear this is the easiest way to get food. "I think we're stealing the last pieces of space from wild animals. We are not only occupying it by construction of new recreational centers, but also by the logging having a negative impact on the territory of the bear. Especially affected is the upper boundary of the forests, but also the protected areas." Adding to this the massive harvesting of forest crops, which is the natural food for bears, it becomes clear that the bears are forced to search for food near villages, hotels, fields and huts that are not sufficiently protected from them. The strongest individuals occupy still smaller natural territories and the others have to look for "territories" with the easiest available food - with garbage containers. These so- called synanthropic bears easily get into conflict with people, which strengthens the voices calling for their regulation. About 70% of conflicts of people with bears are caused by unsecured municipal waste. The bear accustomed to the food container “under his nose”, will no longer search for food in the wild. Also, feeding the bears by hunters represents an artificial food source, to which the bears can easily become accustomed. As with other animal species, availability of food determines their population, and so the females give birth to more cubs than usually, if they would depend only on natural food sources. The “Bear Problem" is relatively satisfactorily resolved in the US and Canada. In schools, children learn that they must not leave food on the gardens, as it attracts bears. Containers located in the "bear" regions as well as on the territory of national parks are constructed in way that bear can not open them. Visitors to national parks are warned not to leave any food in the tent, but to put them in safety lockers or to pull them on the rope into the tree crown. Residents are familiar with the rules how to behave when meeting with a bear and outdoor stores offers “bear spray” to defend themselves. Compliance with these rules has significantly reduced the number of conflicts and it should be a model for Slovakia to learn. Fortunately, thanks to the help of US conservationists, during last year in the villages of Štrba and Podkonice, dozens of safety containers were placed. Shooting of bears is not an option, and we have to learn how to co-exist with them. The brown bear is an animal protected by law, and only the Ministry of the Environment of the SR can issue permission on its shootings. So, if you will walk in the woods, do not leave any food there and respect the advice: hang a bell on your backpack or speak, sing of whistle while walking, to prevent surprising the bear.  

Location

Slovakia, Prešov Region, Poprad district, Vysoké Tatry

https://www.google.gr/maps/place/Mesto+Vysok%C3%A9+Tatry/@49.1467018,20.1909406,5706m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x473e23f0c2d025e5:0xdc87bc18d23146bc!8m2!3d49.1408485!4d20.2238513?hl=en

Environmental impact

• Biodiversity loss – Ecosystem destruction
• Alteration of landscape aesthetics and built heritage

Ethical/ legal issues

• A clean and prosperous environment and a safe and pleasant habitat
• Education and information

Information sources & materials

Contributor(s)

Štefan Szabó, Silvia Szabóová, SOSNA Association, Slovakia

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