Swedish bear cull sparks fierce backlash from environmentalists

The Swedish government has issued a licence to kill nearly 20% of the brown bear population. This decision has been met with opposition from environmentalists, who warn that there may soon be too few predators in Europe. They have even described it as "purely trophy hunting."

Animal culls worldwide are not uncommon. There is often a need to organise hunts to ensure the safety of people and wildlife. When a population becomes too large and threatens society, it becomes necessary to grant hunting permits. Such is the case in Sweden, where brown bear hunts officially began on Wednesday, 21 August. However, environmentalists believe that too many predators will lose their lives.

Environmentalists protested when Swedish officials announced the number of bear culling licences granted. They have long argued that this is irresponsible behaviour. In a conversation with the media, they explained why this year's predator hunt is too extensive, as nearly 500 bears will be killed. Activists believe this could destabilise the population across Europe if officials continue to grant so many culling licences.

Despite criticism from environmentalists, the official cull of brown bears in Sweden began on Wednesday, 21 August. As reported by theguardian.com, the 500 predators to be shot account for about 20% of the entire population. The hunts will reduce the number of bears in Sweden to about 2,000. This is nearly 40% less than in 2008, a figure that environmentalists and activists find unacceptable.

"It's purely trophy hunting. Wildlife management in Sweden consists of killing animals rather than conserving them as best as possible," said a frustrated Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Carnivore Association.

Environmentalists emphasize that if hunters continue to kill bears at a pace similar to this year's in 2025, Sweden will be on the brink. They predict that only about 1,400 predators will be left, which is the minimum number deemed necessary by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to maintain a viable population.