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Given the large variation in population size and distribution of the 10 European populations that span 22 countries, it is not surprising that management regimes vary widely. While the small relict populations in western Europe are strictly protected and conservation measures include re-introductions, brown bears are a game species in the large populations in Eastern or Northern Europe. Harvest traditions and methods also vary widely between the various countries. In the Dinaric and Balkan mountains hunting over bait from elevated stands is the most commonly used method, and in fact is the only method allowed in Slovenia and Croatia. In Scandinavia and Finland, bears are often killed with the use of specially trained dogs (mainly laika or other spitz types) or shot incidentally during the annual autumn moose hunt. Waiting at bait is also used in these populations by some hunters, although it will probably be banned within a few years because of fears of habituating bears to human food-sources, and because of EU health regulation regarding disposal of animal carcasses. Shooting with a rifle is the only legal method to kill bears in Europe, as snares and traps are forbidden. Motivation for hunting varies from "traditional" recreational hunting by local residents (for both meat and trophy) to "exclusive" trophy-hunting by paying clients that typically come from outside the area and pay high prices. There is little evidence for harvest being motivated by the economic incentive from bear gall-bladders or other body parts which is becoming increasingly common in Asia and North America (Servheen, 1999). The legal structure under which harvest occurs varies from country to country. In some countries like Russia, Croatia and Estonia bears are managed as a game species for which an annual quota is set. In other countries like Slovenia and Romania they are legally protected except that special permits are issued for an annual harvest. Such differences are generally designed to harmonize national management objectives with international conventions (e.g. the Berne Convention). In all European countries where bears are harvested for which we have data, some sort of quota limits the annual harvest. Common for 8 of these 10 bear populations is the fact that they spread across international borders, and many of these countries have been politically unstable during the 1990’s. In the past, different political systems also hindered the free exchange of people and knowledge, and made international co-operation difficult. Presently, pan-European conservation action plans (Servheen et al., 1999; Swenson et al., 1999) and contact networks like the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe should provide frameworks that encourage greater co-operation and co-ordination of bear orientated research/conservation activities. In addition, the political structures provided by the European Union, the Council of Europe, NATO, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe should help stabilize international relations, and allow the implementation of more co-ordinated and standardized approaches to bear conservation. |
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