This European country is killing 20 per cent of its bear population

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Sweden's government has approved the culling of 486 brown bears—20% of the country's wild population—during this year's annual licensed hunt, sparking backlash from conservation groups

🔭 The context: The Eurasian brown bear population in Sweden, once on the brink of extinction, has been steadily recovering since protective measures were introduced in 1927
•  Despite the growth in numbers, campaigners argue that the current hunting quotas are too high and threaten the long-term stability of the bear population

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The hunt raises concerns about the sustainability of Sweden's wildlife management practices, particularly given the brown bear's status as a protected species within the EU

⏭️ What's next: Environmental groups, including Sweden’s Big Five, plan to file formal complaints with the European Commission, challenging the legality of the bear hunt under EU conservation laws

💬 One quote: “We can absolutely not continue to shoot this many bears if we are to have a stable bear population,” warns Jonas Kindberg, leader of the Scandinavian Bear Research Project

📈 One stat: Last year, the bear population in Sweden dropped to 2,450 after the licensed hunt, down from a peak of 3,300 in 2008

Click for more news covering the latest on biodiversity