Reuters AlertNet Lite - WWF objects to Slovenian brown bear hunting quota

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

WWF objects to Slovenian brown bear hunting quota

02 Mar 2007 14:01:55 GMT
Source: Reuters

LJUBLJANA, March 2 (Reuters) - Slovenian Environment Minister Janez Podobnik has approved an unchanged hunting quota of 100 brown bears in 2007, but a leading conservation body said the region's bear population could not sustain such a loss.

"(We) expect that the quota will ensure favourable conditions for the (brown bear) population," the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The quota was based on an estimate that there are 500 to 700 brown bears in Slovenia and on the government view that the number of bears would become excessive unless kept in check.

A total of 121 brown bears died in Slovenia last year, mainly as a result of hunting and traffic accidents.

The World Wild Fund (WWF), a top global conservation organisation, said it believed the quota was too high and estimated there are only 500 bears in Slovenia.

"The WWF is very concerned that this quota is too high and will affect the whole population of brown bears, including countries like Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, etc.," Gerald Dick of WWF Global Species Programme told Reuters.

"There is no clear evidence provided about the population size, therefore the quota lacks scientific grounds and is not sustainable," he said.

Slovenia has one of the largest bear populations in Europe and last year exported five bears to the French Pyrenees to increase the number there, despite protests by French farmers.

Dense woods, the bears' ideal habitat, cover more than half of Slovenia, a small Alpine country with two million people.

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Bosnia-Herzegovina profile
· View map

• Croatia profile
· View map

• Serbia profile
· View map

• Slovenia profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• On eve of Kosovo final status decision, Mercy Corps warns that progress depends on confidence-building, government competence
Mercy Corps

• Helping regardless of national affiliation in Kosovo
SOS-Kinderdorf International

• Apply to Mercy Corps M&E Consultant Roster
Mercy Corps

MORE >>

Latest news

• WWF objects to Slovenian brown bear hunting quota

• UN's Ahtisaari calls last-chance Kosovo summit

• Syria hopeful over outcome of Iraq meeting - VP

• South Lebanon villagers slam French troops, policy

• Serbs and Albanians wind up Kosovo talks

MORE >>

Last updated:Fri Mar 2 14:05:29 2007