The incident has sparked discussions on wildlife protection and hunting regulations in the region.
French Hunter Sentenced for Killing Endangered Bear During Boar Hunt
French Hunter Sentenced for Killing Endangered Bear During Boar Hunt
An 81-year-old man faces legal consequences after shooting a protected bear in the Pyrenees, prompting fines for his hunting group.
An 81-year-old hunter in France has received a four-month suspended prison sentence and a €750 fine for the unlawful killing of a protected brown bear, known as Caramelles, during a boar-hunting expedition in the Pyrenees mountains in 2021. The elderly hunter claimed self-defense, stating that he acted out of fear when the bear attacked him.
During the incident, the man was hunting with a group when two bear cubs appeared, leading to the aggressive encounter with their mother. In a harrowing account, he detailed how the bear grabbed his thigh and bit his calf, prompting him to shoot her. Despite his defense, the court determined that the hunters had ventured outside the designated hunting area, a fact that raised legal and ethical concerns.
The Foix Criminal Court also penalized a total of 15 hunters, ordering them to collectively pay over €60,000 in damages to environmental organizations that had initiated civil suits against them. The bear, weighing around 150kg, has since been taxidermized and is currently on display at the Toulouse Natural History Museum.
While prosecutors pointed out the unlawful nature of their hunting location, defense attorney Fanny Campagne expressed concerns regarding insufficient signage prohibiting hunting in the area. The ruling has drawn attention from conservation groups, including the Pays de l'ours bear-preservation association, which welcomed the finding of guilt for all hunters involved and expressed hopes for greater awareness within the hunting community.
Wildlife numbers in the Pyrenees have fluctuated dramatically over the decades, with reports indicating that the brown bear population has increased slightly in recent years, owing in part to reintroduction efforts that began in the 1990s. Currently, the French Office for Biodiversity estimates that around 96 bears inhabit the region, highlighting the importance of stringent protections for these vulnerable animals.
During the incident, the man was hunting with a group when two bear cubs appeared, leading to the aggressive encounter with their mother. In a harrowing account, he detailed how the bear grabbed his thigh and bit his calf, prompting him to shoot her. Despite his defense, the court determined that the hunters had ventured outside the designated hunting area, a fact that raised legal and ethical concerns.
The Foix Criminal Court also penalized a total of 15 hunters, ordering them to collectively pay over €60,000 in damages to environmental organizations that had initiated civil suits against them. The bear, weighing around 150kg, has since been taxidermized and is currently on display at the Toulouse Natural History Museum.
While prosecutors pointed out the unlawful nature of their hunting location, defense attorney Fanny Campagne expressed concerns regarding insufficient signage prohibiting hunting in the area. The ruling has drawn attention from conservation groups, including the Pays de l'ours bear-preservation association, which welcomed the finding of guilt for all hunters involved and expressed hopes for greater awareness within the hunting community.
Wildlife numbers in the Pyrenees have fluctuated dramatically over the decades, with reports indicating that the brown bear population has increased slightly in recent years, owing in part to reintroduction efforts that began in the 1990s. Currently, the French Office for Biodiversity estimates that around 96 bears inhabit the region, highlighting the importance of stringent protections for these vulnerable animals.
