Slovenia has one the largest brown bear populations in Europe and it is not uncommon to spot one walking in the woods or even in settled areas. Like the wolf and the lynx, the brown bear is a protected species, but the population is managed by culling. Last year, 206 bears were culled.

Management of bear and wolf populations has been raising controversy in the country for years. Farmers complain about the damage caused by the animals while animal rights and environmental organisations campaign against culling and often take legal action to prevent it.

Last year the Environment Ministry allowed the culling of 222 brown bears by the end of September. Issued in February, the decision was then challenged by the NGO Alpe Adria Green, only to be upheld by the Administrative Court in June in a development that has become an annual pattern.

In a bid to find a balance between wildlife and humans, and make management of the two populations acceptable to the broader public, the government is now revising strategic documents. A new action plan and a strategy for the brown bear are expected to be adopted this year and for the wolf in 2024.

Due to hunting and the damage they cause to farmers in particular, bears and wolfs had become so endangered in the first half of the 20th century that they were then protected by means of hunting and nature conservation regulations.

The lynx became extinct in Slovenia in the early 20th century. It was reintroduced by hunters in 1973 as six lynx were brought to the country from Slovakia. In recent years, the population has been rejuvenated with lynx from Romania.

Regardless of the protected status of the brown bear and wolf, culling under strict conditions is possible for reasons set down in the relevant regulation such as ensuring people's health or safety and preventing serious damage to property. This is only if there is no other suitable option available and if culling does not negatively affect the state of the population.

The culling permit is issued by the Environment Ministry based on an opinion by the Slovenia Forest Service. Its data shows that 206 bears were culled last year, 78 more than the year before, and four wolves, one more than in 2021.

According to the Slovenia Forest Service, the latest estimate of the wolf population is from the 2020/2021 season when around 120 animals roamed the country. The latest model-based estimate for the bear from spring 2022 put the population at 1,096.

Hunters culled most bears, 96, in the south-central region of Notranjska and Kočevska further to the south. Wolfdogs or wolfs were culled in the areas of Kranjska Gora in the north-west and Pivka in the south-west.

The authorities recorded just over 300 incidents in which bears caused an estimated EUR 119,000 in damage last year, which is down from the estimate for 2021, at EUR 206,000. Damage attributed to wolves last year is estimated at almost EUR 100,000, up from EUR 77,000 in 2021, according to Slovenia Forest Service data.

Bears most often caused damage by attacking sheep and goats (27% of the cases), but they also caused damage to fruit and fruit trees, bees, silage bales, maize, cattle, wild game feeders, and horses and donkeys. Most such incidents were recorded in Kočevska and Notranjska.

Attacks on small cattle represented 77% of the damage caused by wolves. Most were in Notranjska.