Europe’s conservation success stories of the past decades are now facing a grim reversal. Despite efforts to protect and revive populations of bears, wolves, and lynx, thousands of these large carnivores are being targeted for hunting across the continent.

The hunts have triggered controversy, raising questions about whether these policies are truly about population control or driven by political agendas and traditional hunting cultures.

Sweden’s Controversial Hunts

In Sweden, the government has issued permits to kill 486 brown bears this year, about 20% of the country’s population of the species, CNN reports. This decision comes on the heels of record-breaking culls of lynxes and wolves in recent years. Critics argue that the scale of the hunts, which run until mid-October, could destabilize predator populations that took decades to recover from near extinction. Conservationists have denounced the hunts as “pure slaughter,” claiming they threaten the survival of entire Scandinavian predator populations.

According to the The Guardian, 152 bears were shot in the first two days of this year's hunt.

Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Carnivore Association, called out the hunt as being less about population control and more about “macho prestige.” He advocates for coexistence measures such as using bear-watching tourism as an economic alternative.

Sweden's bear population, which had been on the rise after being hunted to near extinction in the early 20th century, now faces a rapid decline due to increasing hunting quotas and relaxed regulations that allow practices such as baiting and using hunting dogs to kill bears.

Romania and Slovakia Follow Suit

Romania, home to the largest population of brown bears in Europe, is also increasing its hunting quotas. This year, the government doubled its hunting quota from 220 to 481 bears, reports Mother Jones. The decision came after a series of bear attacks made headlines, sparking fear and anger among rural communities. The Romanian parliament’s move to authorize more hunting has been sharply criticized by environmental groups, who argue that the cull is excessive and driven by fear rather than science.

A similar scenario is unfolding in Slovakia, where recent bear attacks have prompted lawmakers to authorize hunting near villages under specific conditions. Footage of a bear rampaging through a Slovak town captured global attention earlier this year, the BBC reports, prompting the government to take swift action.

The backlash against predators has extended beyond bears. Sweden, Slovakia, and Romania have also implemented widespread culls of wolves and lynxes. In Slovakia, wolves can now be hunted within 500 meters of a human settlement after a series of attacks on livestock, reports the Financial Times, and Austria and Spain recently saw wolf culls deemed unlawful by the European Court of Justice. The aggressive stance on predator control is drawing fierce criticism from environmental activists and scientists, who warn of the long-term ecological damage that large-scale hunts could cause.

The Political Battlefield

The debate over hunting large carnivores has become a political issue in many European countries, particularly in rural areas where farmers and hunters feel that predator populations pose a direct threat to their livelihoods. This tension has escalated in recent years, with politicians capitalizing on fears of wolf and bear attacks to push for more lenient hunting regulations. The European Commission has come under pressure to reevaluate the protection status of wolves after its president, Ursula von der Leyen, had a pony killed by a wolf. According to The Guardian, politicians are increasingly framing these predators as a political problem rather than an environmental one.

Farmers and hunters argue that the growth in predator populations leads to more frequent attacks on livestock, which in turn creates financial hardships for rural communities. Supporters of the hunts say they are necessary to protect livestock and people, especially in areas where these animals are encroaching on human settlements. However, conservationists warn that indiscriminate culling can lead to unintended consequences, including destabilizing predator packs, which can result in more frequent livestock attacks as younger, inexperienced wolves and bears venture closer to human habitats.

Conservationists Sound the Alarm

Conservation scientists are increasingly alarmed by the potential long-term impacts of these hunts. Studies show that removing large numbers of predators from ecosystems can disrupt the balance between predators and prey, which can lead to an increase in herbivore populations, damage to vegetation, and the spread of disease. According to a Talker News, carnivores like wolves and bears play a critical role in maintaining ecosystem health by keeping prey populations in check.

Experts have also warned that culling can have a “backfire” effect. At least one study shows that killing too many predators can disrupt their social structures, making it harder for them to hunt their natural prey and increasing the likelihood that they will turn to livestock for food. This effect has been documented with wolves in Europe, as well as with cougars and coyotes in North America. Ecologists argue that instead of relying on hunts, governments should invest in non-lethal methods of coexistence, such as electric fences, guard dogs, and public awareness campaigns.

Despite these warnings, hunting quotas continue to rise in several European countries, with the pressure from rural voters and powerful hunting lobbies often driving policy decisions. “European governments, influenced by dominant populist rhetoric and powerful hunting and agricultural lobbies, seem to be choosing solutions based on fear and rapid economic return,” Ciprian Gal from Greenpeace Romania told The Guardian.

A Tipping Point?

The future of Europe’s predator populations is uncertain. While some regions are exploring rewilding efforts and conservation strategies, the political and social pressures to control carnivore populations are strong. The question now is whether these fragile populations can survive the hunting policies that are currently in place or whether Europe will once again see its most iconic predators pushed to the brink of extinction.

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