Sweden on Wednesday (Aug 21) began a killing spree to eliminate nearly 500 brown bears, or 20 per cent of the animal's population in the Nordic country, despite outcry by environment activists who call it more of a 'macho pride' issue than something motivated by real ecological concerns.

The brown bears can be shot dead as&nbsp;part of the annual license to kill. The hunting season will go into October 15.&nbsp;For this season, 486 brown bears can be killed in the so-called licensed hunt.

Activists say that a century&nbsp;of conservation efforts will go to waste after campaigns and laws had brought back the population of brown bears that were once killed to near-extinction by hunters.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<h2>The 'trophy hunt' of bears&nbsp;</h2>

Brown bears that number more than 3,000 in Sweden,&nbsp;are a strictly protected species within the European Union. Hunting them is being seen by some as a matter of 'macho pride', allege the activists.

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“There are several ways to better live side by side... by taking preventive measures to avoid damage and by using the great tourism value of bear watching as a tool for countryside development, which our neighbouring country Finland has proven to be very good at,” Euronews quoted Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Carnivore Association, as saying.

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Measures to protect them from trophy-hunting were introduced in 1927. Over several decades since then, their population gradually grew. It was&nbsp;around 2,200 in the year 2000, and&nbsp;peaked at around 3,300 in 2008.&nbsp;

But after the licensed hunt of 2023, the population dropped to 2,450.

Sweden’s Big Five, a conservation group, alleged the&nbsp;government was on a clear path to cull the big carnivores to 1,400, which is the minimum number required for conservation purposes.&nbsp;This would represent a 60 per cent loss from the 2008 peak.

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“We can absolutely not continue to shoot this many bears if we are to have a stable bear population around the 2,400 bears we have today,” says Jonas Kindberg, leader of the Scandinavian Bear research project.

Officially known as Ursus arctos, brown&nbsp;bears mature slowly, taking up to four years to become adults.

Kindberg noted that only a few cubs are born at a time, and that too once in two to three years.&nbsp;“During the hunt, it is very difficult to tell females from males, and the females are much more valuable to the population. Therefore, you risk ending up in a situation that may take a very long time to repair.”

In addition to the annual licensed hunts, brown bears are allowed to be killed in 'protective' hunts if they're considered damaging to property or threat to life.

Last year, 648 bears were shot during licensed hunting, while 74 more were killed during protective hunting. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Sweden on Wednesday (Aug 21) began a killing spree to eliminate nearly 500 brown bears, or 20 per cent of the animal's population in the Nordic country, despite outcry by environment activists who call it more of a 'macho pride' issue than something motivated by real ecological concerns.

Sweden on Wednesday (Aug 21) began a killing spree to eliminate nearly 500 brown bears, or 20 per cent of the animal's population in the Nordic country, despite outcry by environment activists who call it more of a 'macho pride' issue than something motivated by real ecological concerns. The brown bears can be shot dead as part of the annual license to kill. The hunting season will go into October 15. For this season, 486 brown bears can be killed in the so-called licensed hunt. Activists say that a century of conservation efforts will go to waste after campaigns and laws had brought back the population of brown bears that were once killed to near-extinction by hunters. The 'trophy hunt' of bears Brown bears that number more than 3,000 in Sweden, are a strictly protected species within the European Union. Hunting them is being seen by some as a matter of 'macho pride', allege the activists. Watch: Polar Bears on verge of extinction due to starvation amid global warming × “There are several ways to better live side by side... by taking preventive measures to avoid damage and by using the great tourism value of bear watching as a tool for countryside development, which our neighbouring country Finland has proven to be very good at,” Euronews quoted Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Carnivore Association, as saying. Also read: No country for bears? Romania's parliament approves stepping up bear culling Measures to protect them from trophy-hunting were introduced in 1927. Over several decades since then, their population gradually grew. It was around 2,200 in the year 2000, and peaked at around 3,300 in 2008. But after the licensed hunt of 2023, the population dropped to 2,450. Sweden’s Big Five, a conservation group, alleged the government was on a clear path to cull the big carnivores to 1,400, which is the minimum number required for conservation purposes. This would represent a 60 per cent loss from the 2008 peak. Also read: Sleeping like a bear might help humans live a healthier life, study suggests “We can absolutely not continue to shoot this many bears if we are to have a stable bear population around the 2,400 bears we have today,” says Jonas Kindberg, leader of the Scandinavian Bear research project. Officially known as Ursus arctos, brown bears mature slowly, taking up to four years to become adults. Kindberg noted that only a few cubs are born at a time, and that too once in two to three years. “During the hunt, it is very difficult to tell females from males, and the females are much more valuable to the population. Therefore, you risk ending up in a situation that may take a very long time to repair.” In addition to the annual licensed hunts, brown bears are allowed to be killed in 'protective' hunts if they're considered damaging to property or threat to life. Last year, 648 bears were shot during licensed hunting, while 74 more were killed during protective hunting. (With inputs from agencies)

Sweden starts killing 20 per cent of its brown bear population despite outcry against 'macho pride'

The authorities in the northern Italian Alps killed a brown bear deemed “dangerous” to hikers and in light of his “excessive confidence” to frequent urban and peri-urban areas, said the officials on Tuesday (Feb 6). The killing of the two-and-a-half-year-old bear has since sparked protests by animal rights groups and even came under scrutiny of Italy’s environment minister.

<h2>What did the provincial authorities say?</h2>

The two-and-a-half-year-old male bear identified as “M90” was killed on Tuesday by Trentino forestry officials, said the authorities in the autonomous province of Trento, in a statement.&nbsp;

“M90 was a dangerous animal... in light of his excessive confidence and frequenting of urban and peri-urban areas,” said the officials.&nbsp;

M90 was killed by members of the forestry corps in the Sole Valley in the eastern Alps following the orders of the president of the autonomous province Maurizio Fugatti.&nbsp;

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The statement also noted that the bear had followed people on multiple occasions. M90 most recently followed a pair of hikers for more than half a kilometre in January along a forest trail in Mezzana.&nbsp;

The Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) “confirmed the need to remove the M90 bear as soon as possible,” said the statement.&nbsp;

Notably, the province in question has been in the midst of an ongoing debate with environmental groups on what to do about the rise in the population of the once nearly extinct Alpine brown bear.

However, the debate intensified last year when a 26-year-old jogger identified as Andrea Papi was mauled to death along a mountain path close to his village of Caldes by a bear called JJ4.&nbsp;

<h2>Environmental groups to protest</h2>

In M90’s case the environmental groups have said that the speed with which the order and execution took place, they did not even get the time to seek a stay.&nbsp;

The timing of the decree and the execution “make us think that while the order was being signed, the rifles were already smoking,’’ said Massimo Vitturi of the LAV animal rights group, as quoted by the Associated Press.&nbsp;

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The Italian branch of the International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA) called the decision to cull M90 “short-sighted” and one that “does not protect biodiversity”.&nbsp;

“M90 was a young bear guilty of having been spotted a few times near inhabited areas,” said OIPA in a statement, as per AFP. The environment groups have announced a protest on Saturday (Feb 8) in the provincial capital, Trento.&nbsp;

Italy’s environmental minister, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, in a statement also questioned if culling was the best option and said that “it can’t be the only alternative.” He also called for efforts “to guarantee a peaceful cohabitation in the territory.”

(With inputs from agencies)

The authorities in the northern Italian Alps killed a brown bear deemed “dangerous” to hikers and in light of his “excessive confidence” to frequent urban and peri-urban areas, said the officials on Tuesday (Feb 6).

The authorities in the northern Italian Alps killed a brown bear deemed “dangerous” to hikers and in light of his “excessive confidence” to frequent urban and peri-urban areas, said the officials on Tuesday (Feb 6). The killing of the two-and-a-half-year-old bear has since sparked protests by animal rights groups and even came under scrutiny of Italy’s environment minister. What did the provincial authorities say? The two-and-a-half-year-old male bear identified as “M90” was killed on Tuesday by Trentino forestry officials, said the authorities in the autonomous province of Trento, in a statement. “M90 was a dangerous animal... in light of his excessive confidence and frequenting of urban and peri-urban areas,” said the officials. M90 was killed by members of the forestry corps in the Sole Valley in the eastern Alps following the orders of the president of the autonomous province Maurizio Fugatti. ALSO READ | One of Italy's last remaining Marsican brown bear shot dead 'out of fear' The statement also noted that the bear had followed people on multiple occasions. M90 most recently followed a pair of hikers for more than half a kilometre in January along a forest trail in Mezzana. The Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) “confirmed the need to remove the M90 bear as soon as possible,” said the statement. Notably, the province in question has been in the midst of an ongoing debate with environmental groups on what to do about the rise in the population of the once nearly extinct Alpine brown bear. However, the debate intensified last year when a 26-year-old jogger identified as Andrea Papi was mauled to death along a mountain path close to his village of Caldes by a bear called JJ4. Environmental groups to protest In M90’s case the environmental groups have said that the speed with which the order and execution took place, they did not even get the time to seek a stay. The timing of the decree and the execution “make us think that while the order was being signed, the rifles were already smoking,’’ said Massimo Vitturi of the LAV animal rights group, as quoted by the Associated Press. ALSO READ | Climate change: Brown bear cubs starve and die in Japan due to lack of salmon The Italian branch of the International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA) called the decision to cull M90 “short-sighted” and one that “does not protect biodiversity”. “M90 was a young bear guilty of having been spotted a few times near inhabited areas,” said OIPA in a statement, as per AFP. The environment groups have announced a protest on Saturday (Feb 8) in the provincial capital, Trento. Italy’s environmental minister, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, in a statement also questioned if culling was the best option and said that “it can’t be the only alternative.” He also called for efforts “to guarantee a peaceful cohabitation in the territory.” (With inputs from agencies)

Italian province culls ‘dangerous’ Alpine brown bear for ‘excessive confidence’, sparks outrage

Brown bear cubs are in a dire state and around 10 have died so far this year due to salmon shortage in a remote part of northern Japan, media reports said. Experts have blamed global warming and subsequent rising sea temperatures because of the climate crisis.&nbsp;

The Shiretoko area, the easternmost portion of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, was designated by UNESCO in 2005 and it became a World Heritage Site.

At that time, UNESCO hoped that Shiretoko and the Kuril Islands (in Russian Federation) would jointly become a transboundary "World Heritage Peace Park" but it didn't happen.&nbsp;

The issue was reported after officials weighed in on the images captured from a tour boat off the coast on September 19.

The images showed a starving brown bear swimming on the beach, scrounging through washed-ashore seaweed and desperately looking for food.&nbsp;

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Katsuya Noda, the tour boat operator, told the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun: "Some bears have grown really thin. They are having a tough time, because there are no fish in the rivers, just like last year."&nbsp;

Pink salmon and acorns are among the essential food sources in late summer for the approximately 500 brown bears that inhabit the region known for its dramatic coastline and wild animals.&nbsp;

Pink salmon hatch in rivers and return to streams after spending the winter in the sea to lay eggs between August and October.

They eventually become the source of food for the brown bears. But because of climate change and its impact, the bears have been forced to swim in the sea because of the shortage of river fish.&nbsp;

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A report by The Guardian mentioned that experts have noted that sea surface temperatures off Hokkaido remained above 20C from mid-July to early August 2021, which was alarmingly 5C higher than average for that time of the year.&nbsp;

According to the researchers at Hokkaido University, seawater temperature around the island will rise by up to 10C in the 2090s if the global heating continues at its current rate.&nbsp;

Masami Yamanaka, who is a researcher at the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, told the Japanese newspaper that the health of brown bear cubs has deteriorated because of the lack of salmon, combined with a poor acorn harvest.&nbsp;

As quoted, Yamanaka said: "An estimated 70% to 80% of the cubs born this year are dead. It’s a really serious situation."&nbsp;

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Brown bear cubs are in a dire state and around 10 have died so far this year due to salmon shortage in a remote part of northern Japan, media reports said. Experts have blamed global warming and subsequent rising sea temperatures because of the climate crisis.

Brown bear cubs are in a dire state and around 10 have died so far this year due to salmon shortage in a remote part of northern Japan, media reports said. Experts have blamed global warming and subsequent rising sea temperatures because of the climate crisis. The Shiretoko area, the easternmost portion of the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, was designated by UNESCO in 2005 and it became a World Heritage Site. At that time, UNESCO hoped that Shiretoko and the Kuril Islands (in Russian Federation) would jointly become a transboundary "World Heritage Peace Park" but it didn't happen. The issue was reported after officials weighed in on the images captured from a tour boat off the coast on September 19. The images showed a starving brown bear swimming on the beach, scrounging through washed-ashore seaweed and desperately looking for food. Also read: Prominent crocodile expert pleads guilty of 'sadistic sexual interest' in animals, particularly dogs Katsuya Noda, the tour boat operator, told the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun: "Some bears have grown really thin. They are having a tough time, because there are no fish in the rivers, just like last year." Pink salmon and acorns are among the essential food sources in late summer for the approximately 500 brown bears that inhabit the region known for its dramatic coastline and wild animals. Pink salmon hatch in rivers and return to streams after spending the winter in the sea to lay eggs between August and October. They eventually become the source of food for the brown bears. But because of climate change and its impact, the bears have been forced to swim in the sea because of the shortage of river fish. Also read: Over 250 mysterious fairy circles spotted from space spread across 3 continents A report by The Guardian mentioned that experts have noted that sea surface temperatures off Hokkaido remained above 20C from mid-July to early August 2021, which was alarmingly 5C higher than average for that time of the year. According to the researchers at Hokkaido University, seawater temperature around the island will rise by up to 10C in the 2090s if the global heating continues at its current rate. Masami Yamanaka, who is a researcher at the Shiretoko Nature Foundation, told the Japanese newspaper that the health of brown bear cubs has deteriorated because of the lack of salmon, combined with a poor acorn harvest. As quoted, Yamanaka said: "An estimated 70% to 80% of the cubs born this year are dead. It’s a really serious situation." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Climate change: Brown bear cubs starve and die in Japan due to lack of salmon

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