To: The Government of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Environment, and all relevant authorities

Subject: Immediate Suspension of the Planned Culling of 350 Brown Bears and Implementation of Humane Wildlife Management Practices

Background:

On April 2, 2025, the Slovak government approved a plan to cull 350 brown bears following a fatal bear attack. While this tragedy has understandably sparked public concern, using it as a justification to slaughter hundreds of animals is not only disproportionate—it is deeply cruel and inhumane.

Brown bears are wild, sentient beings acting on instinct. One unfortunate incident involving a hungry animal does notjustify the mass killing of a species. No animal should be punished with death for simply behaving according to its nature.

This decision is not just wrong—it is an ethical failure.

Concerns:

Cruelty and Injustice: Killing wild animals en masse as a response to human fear is a betrayal of our moral responsibility to protect the natural world. Bears do not kill for malice—they act out of hunger, defense, or confusion. They do not deserve to be exterminated for being wild animals.
Ecological Impact: A drastic reduction of the bear population risks upsetting the ecological balance and damaging Slovakia’s biodiversity.
Violation of International Standards: This mass culling may contradict Slovakia’s commitments to international wildlife conservation agreements.
Ineffectiveness of Culling: Studies show that culling is rarely effective long-term and can even make the problem worse by destabilizing animal populations.
There are better ways.

We Demand Alternatives:

Public Education Campaigns: Teach communities how to live safely alongside bears.
Secure Waste Systems: Reduce bear attractants in urban areas.
Stronger Habitat Protection: Give bears the space they need to live away from people.
We, the undersigned, demand that the Slovak government:

Immediately stop the planned culling of 350 brown bears.
Commit to ethical, humane, and scientifically sound wildlife management.
Work with conservationists, ecologists, and local communities to find peaceful solutions.

This is not just a petition—it’s a call to conscience. The world is watching. Let Slovakia be a country that protects its wildlife, not one that kills it out of fear.