An elderly hunter in France was sentenced for shooting an endangered bear during a boar-hunting expedition, igniting a significant environmental controversy. The court found him guilty for his actions, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations and increased awareness within the hunting community.
French Hunter Receives Suspended Sentence for Shooting Endangered Bear
French Hunter Receives Suspended Sentence for Shooting Endangered Bear
An 81-year-old hunter has been handed a suspended sentence and fine for the illegal killing of a protected bear in the Pyrenees mountains.
The article text:
An 81-year-old hunter in France has been given a four-month suspended jail sentence and fined for the illegal killing of an endangered bear in the Pyrenees mountains. The incident occurred during a boar hunt in 2021, when the man claimed he had "no other option" but to shoot the brown bear after it attacked him.
The Foix Criminal Court heard that the bear, a 150kg female known as Caramelles, was preserved after being killed and is now displayed at the Toulouse Natural History Museum. The court was informed that the group of hunters was boar-hunting when they encountered two bear cubs, leading to a confrontation with Caramelles, who charged at the man, injuring him before he ultimately shot her.
The hunter described the harrowing encounter in court: "She grabbed my left thigh, I panicked and fired a shot. She backed away growling, she went around me and bit my right calf; I fell; she was eating my leg," he recounted. Following the incident, the court ascertained that the hunters were in a prohibited area, 1,300ft outside an authorized hunting zone. Prosecutors condemned their actions, while a defense lawyer criticized the lack of clear signage demarcating the hunting restrictions.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the primary shooter has been fined €750, with his rifle confiscated and his hunting license revoked. Other hunters involved in the incident face a collective fine exceeding €60,000, intended for environmental organizations that pursued legal action against them.
Bear preservation advocates, including the Pays de l'ours association, welcomed the verdict, expressing hope that it would lead to increased awareness within the hunting community. Association president Sabine Matraire stated, “All the hunters were found guilty, which is the most important thing for us.”
Historically, brown bear populations in the Pyrenees have faced significant declines, plummeting to just about 70 bears in 1954. However, following reintroduction efforts in the 1990s with the introduction of three bears from Slovenia, numbers have increased, with estimates from the French Office for Biodiversity indicating approximately 96 bears currently inhabit the region.
An 81-year-old hunter in France has been given a four-month suspended jail sentence and fined for the illegal killing of an endangered bear in the Pyrenees mountains. The incident occurred during a boar hunt in 2021, when the man claimed he had "no other option" but to shoot the brown bear after it attacked him.
The Foix Criminal Court heard that the bear, a 150kg female known as Caramelles, was preserved after being killed and is now displayed at the Toulouse Natural History Museum. The court was informed that the group of hunters was boar-hunting when they encountered two bear cubs, leading to a confrontation with Caramelles, who charged at the man, injuring him before he ultimately shot her.
The hunter described the harrowing encounter in court: "She grabbed my left thigh, I panicked and fired a shot. She backed away growling, she went around me and bit my right calf; I fell; she was eating my leg," he recounted. Following the incident, the court ascertained that the hunters were in a prohibited area, 1,300ft outside an authorized hunting zone. Prosecutors condemned their actions, while a defense lawyer criticized the lack of clear signage demarcating the hunting restrictions.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the primary shooter has been fined €750, with his rifle confiscated and his hunting license revoked. Other hunters involved in the incident face a collective fine exceeding €60,000, intended for environmental organizations that pursued legal action against them.
Bear preservation advocates, including the Pays de l'ours association, welcomed the verdict, expressing hope that it would lead to increased awareness within the hunting community. Association president Sabine Matraire stated, “All the hunters were found guilty, which is the most important thing for us.”
Historically, brown bear populations in the Pyrenees have faced significant declines, plummeting to just about 70 bears in 1954. However, following reintroduction efforts in the 1990s with the introduction of three bears from Slovenia, numbers have increased, with estimates from the French Office for Biodiversity indicating approximately 96 bears currently inhabit the region.
