The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, Mr. Janez Podobnik, has issued a decree by which approximately 100 brown bears should be killed in 2006.
The Minister argues that there are too many bears in Slovenia and that the size of population of the animal has to be balanced with the environment.
In Slovenia, the brown bear is an endangered species, protected by the Endangered Species Act. The Minister's decision to decree the culling of the bear population - arguing overpopulation, no less - is therefore incomprehensible. How can there be >too many< bears if they are endangered
and accordingly protected by a number of legal acts, in Slovenia itself as well as internationally?
Besides, nature can be trusted to take care of overpopulation and ensure natural balance by itself - it is not necessary for man to do so. In many areas where hunting is outlawed (e.g. natural parks and reserves) there are no occurrences of natural imbalance. Human interfering with natural processes will only bring about even greater imbalance.
Even though the Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning is bound by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia to ensure the preservation of the environment and natural habitats, he has decreed the killing of no less than 100 inhabitants of this country - for they are living beings and a
part of our natural wealth. Is the killing of bears consistent with preserving this natural wealth - or
is it about destroying it?
Even though any incitement to violence is unconstitutional, the Minister of the Environment himself has decreed the killing of living creatures, which will inflict immeasurable violence upon nature. And even though torture of animals is expressly forbidden by the Slovene constitution, the animals to be killed will be victims of immense suffering.
Furthermore, Slovenia already has a strategy of brown bear population management. It was adopted by the government and it provides for many non-violent means which could be used in this case, without having to resort to killing. In light of this Strategy, the Minister's decision to order the killing of bears, instead of managing their population by other means available, is even more incomprehensible and unacceptable.

Stanko Valpatiè, President
The Society for the Rights and the Liberation of Animals

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