Controversy Erupts Over 2025 Bear Hunting Quota in Sweden
The bear hunting quota for 2025 faces severe criticism for being too high, threatening sustainability.
Key Points
- • 465 bears allowed to be hunted this year, nearly 20% of the population.
- • Critics claim the quota is unsustainable for population recovery.
- • Historically, bear numbers fell to around 130 by 1927 but have since recovered to about 2,500.
- • Concerns raised over impact on age and gender demographics of the bear population.
The annual bear hunting season in Sweden has kicked off amid intense criticism regarding the recently approved hunting quota of 465 bears. This figure represents nearly 20% of the total bear population, raising significant concerns about the sustainability of current hunting practices and the long-term viability of the species.
Conservationists, particularly from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, argue that the quota is excessively high, particularly given that the population growth rate of bears is only about 10% annually. Beatrice Rindevall, chairperson of the organization, emphasized that such a significant portion of the population being hunted risks the bear population’s ability to recover. "The bear population won't have the chance to rebound if hunting continues at these levels," she stated. This year's hunting limit has decreased slightly from 485 bears last year but is still much lower than the peak of 649 bears allowed in 2023.
The bear is protected under EU law, specifically through the Habitats Directive, which mandates that hunting must not threaten the species' conservation status. Critics, including bear researcher Jonas Kindberg from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, warn that high hunting quotas could negatively impact the population's demographics, affecting both gender ratios and age distribution. Kindberg noted, "Such continuous high levels of hunting can disrupt reproduction rates, as bears take at least five years to reach sexual maturity."
Historically, the bear population in Sweden faced severe decline, hovering around 130 bears in 1927 due to overhunting. Conservation efforts have since allowed numbers to recover to approximately 2,500 today. However, Rindevall expressed her fears that current hunting policies could reverse these gains, stating, "Humanity's survival is tied to biodiversity and the crucial role of predators in ecosystems." As the hunting season unfolds, the debate over wildlife management and conservation in Sweden remains heated, with activists calling for more sustainable practices to ensure the future of the bear population.