Estonia is actively building a coalition with roughly ten European countries to reclassify the brown bear from strict Annex IV protection to the less stringent Annex V under the EU Habitats Directive, as Maaleht reported.
The push aims to simplify the regulation of growing bear populations. The original 1992 directive predates the accession of several member states with established large carnivore numbers.
Climate Ministry hunting adviser Aimar Rakko identified the prospective allies as Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and other Balkan nations. No formal application has been drafted yet. Rakko noted that while discussions are underway, the political and social dimensions complicate decision-making because not all participating states support expanded hunting.
Timo Kark, head of the Climate Ministry’s biodiversity department, pointed to public perception as a key hurdle. Kark stated that unlike the wolf, which carries a villainous reputation in traditional fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, the bear enjoys the image of a cute teddy bear.
Kark outlined the legislative path ahead as lengthy. The process requires a majority of member states to propose changes to the Berne Convention, subsequent adoption by the convention’s parties, a formal proposal from the European Commission to amend the directive’s annexes, and renewed support from member states.
Several candidate countries already face significant population pressures and human-wildlife conflicts. Slovakia, which hosts at least 2,500 bears, recorded 106 attacks over a ten-year period resulting in four fatalities, and strongly backs Estonia’s initiative. Slovenia, with approximately 1,000 bears and 20 attacks, supports ongoing talks without taking an official position. Romania has doubled its annual cull to 969 bears to manage a population estimated between 10,419 and 12,770.
Rakko traced the current impasse to the drafting of the 1992 directive for member states possessing small or nonexistent bear populations. Nations with substantial bear numbers—including Slovakia, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland—joined the European Union at later dates. Rakko dismissed relocation as an effective fix for Estonia, explaining that the country’s forests are too small, the animal returns within a day or two, and moving it merely shifts the burden to another region at state expense.
The European Union previously moved the wolf from Annex IV to Annex V of the directive following calls that began in July of last year. Estonia now seeks a comparable shift for the brown bear.
Domestically, Estonian regulations shifted in April to permit bear culling only via special permits issued by the Environmental Board for problem animals, a policy local hunters report has effectively halted the annual bear hunt. This autumn, the board issued permits for 30 problem bears while hunters killed 10, falling short of the Environment Agency’s recommended ceiling of up to 150.
In September, the second-tier Tallinn Circuit Court suspended the remaining permits pending a ruling on a legal challenge brought by the NGO Eesti Suurkiskjad. The organization argues that the state lacks accurate data on the actual size of the bear population. Estonia’s bear population is currently estimated at approximately 1,100, marking a twofold increase over the past twenty years, with the board reporting near-daily human-bear conflicts.
| Country | Estimated Bear Population | Recent Incidents or Management Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | 10,419 – 12,770 | Doubled annual cull to 969 bears; fatalities recorded |
| Slovakia | At least 2,500 | 106 attacks over ten years resulting in four fatalities |
| Slovenia | Approx. 1,000 | 20 attacks recorded; supporting talks without official stance |
| Estonia | Approx. 1,100 | Near-daily conflicts; 30 problem permits issued, 10 culled |
