A recent court ruling in France has brought attention to the illegal hunting of endangered species. An 81-year-old hunter has been found guilty of killing a protected brown bear, resulting in a suspended four-month prison sentence and fines for him and fellow hunters. The incident occurred during a boar-hunt in 2021 when the bear attacked. The case underscores growing concerns about wildlife protection in the region.
French Hunter Sentenced for Killing Protected Brown Bear
French Hunter Sentenced for Killing Protected Brown Bear
An 81-year-old man receives a suspended jail term for shooting a bear during a hunting incident in the Pyrenees.
The 81-year-old hunter in question has been handed a fine and a four-month suspended jail sentence after he fatally shot a female bear, known as Caramelles, while boar-hunting in the Pyrenees mountains. The incident occurred in 2021 when the bear came to the defense of her cubs and attacked the hunter, injuring him. The hunter's defense was that he had no choice but to shoot in self-defense.
Along with the hunter, 15 others involved in the same hunt were also penalized, facing fines totaling over €60,000 to environmental groups pursuing damages. The bear, weighing around 150 kg, has since been preserved and is displayed at the Toulouse Natural History Museum.
The Foix Criminal Court reviewed evidence showing the hunters were in a restricted area, well beyond 1,300 feet from any authorized hunting ground. A defense lawyer argued against the penalties citing insufficient signage about the restricted hunting areas.
The decision has been welcomed by preservation groups, with Pays de l'ours stating it hopes the outcome fosters awareness in the hunting community about the importance of protecting endangered bear populations, which have increased from as low as 70 bears in 1954 to an estimated 96 today due to reintroduction efforts.
Along with the hunter, 15 others involved in the same hunt were also penalized, facing fines totaling over €60,000 to environmental groups pursuing damages. The bear, weighing around 150 kg, has since been preserved and is displayed at the Toulouse Natural History Museum.
The Foix Criminal Court reviewed evidence showing the hunters were in a restricted area, well beyond 1,300 feet from any authorized hunting ground. A defense lawyer argued against the penalties citing insufficient signage about the restricted hunting areas.
The decision has been welcomed by preservation groups, with Pays de l'ours stating it hopes the outcome fosters awareness in the hunting community about the importance of protecting endangered bear populations, which have increased from as low as 70 bears in 1954 to an estimated 96 today due to reintroduction efforts.
