The 59-year-old man was found dead in central Slovakia on Sunday with injuries indicating that a bear had been involved. It is the latest in a growing number of bear attacks in the country – although only the fourth in modern history with a fatal outcome.
We cannot live in a country where people are afraid to go out into the forest, says Prime Minister Robert Fico.
The brown bear population in Slovakia is estimated to amount to over 1,300 bears. To legally be able to approve the culling plans, the government in Bratislava has declared a state of emergency due to "undesirable bear presence" in large parts of the country.
Conservationists criticize the government's plan, which they claim violates Slovak law.
