Authorities in Sweden have issued licenses to kill 20% of its brown bear population as part of the country’s annual hunt, which begins on Wednesday, despite concerns from environmentalists.
Officials have granted permits for the culling of just under 500 brown bears by hunters. According to official figures, this number equates to approximately 20% of the total population and would reduce the number of bears in Sweden to around 2,000 – a decrease of nearly 40% from 2008, according to The Guardian.
The large number of licenses issued has alarmed environmentalists, who warn that the populations of large predators in Europe could collapse in some countries without adequate protection.
"It's purely trophy hunting," said Magnus Orrebrant, president of the Swedish Carnivore Association. "Wildlife management in Sweden consists of killing animals rather than conserving them as best as possible."
Brown bears were hunted almost to extinction in Sweden in the 1920s, but thanks to careful management, the population rebounded to a peak of around 3,300 in 2008.
However, in the last five years, an increasing number of bears have been hunted, reaching a record of 722 individuals killed last year.
This year, licenses have been issued for the shooting of 486 bears, and an undetermined number of bears could be shot where they are deemed a threat to farm animals.
In November 2022, a new law granted local hunting associations more power to oversee the management of large predators, including bears. In recent years, hundreds of wolves and lynxes have also been culled, fueling concerns among environmentalists.