A case reflecting the ongoing tensions between conservation efforts and hunting practices in France.
**French Hunter Sentenced for Fatal Shooting of Protected Brown Bear**
**French Hunter Sentenced for Fatal Shooting of Protected Brown Bear**
An elderly hunter receives a suspended sentence and fines over the unlawful killing of a rare bear in the Pyrenees.
An 81-year-old man has been given a suspended four-month prison sentence and fined €750 for the illegal shooting of a protected brown bear in the French Pyrenees. The incident occurred during a boar hunting expedition in 2021 when the bear, known as Caramelles, charged at the hunter after he unintentionally came close to its cubs. The bear has since been preserved by a taxidermist and is currently displayed in the Toulouse Natural History Museum.
The prosecution highlighted that the hunters were more than 1,300 feet away from the designated hunting zone, with the defense arguing that proper signage was lacking to indicate restricted areas. Alongside the shooter, fifteen other hunters faced fines amounting to over €60,000 collectively due to civil suits filed by environmental groups. The particulars of the case revealed the dramatic moment when the bear attacked, prompting the shooter to claim self-defense.
Sabine Matraire, president of the bear conservation group Pays de l'ours, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, underscoring the need for increased awareness and responsibility within the hunting community. This incident took place in Mont Valier nature reserve, an area noted for its declining bear population, which has only recently shown signs of recovery due to conservation efforts initiated in the 1990s. The latest estimates suggest there are now around 96 bears in the region, a marked increase from the perilously low numbers recorded in the mid-20th century.
