A local court in France has ruled against an 81-year-old hunter who fatally shot a protected bear, leading to a four-month suspended jail sentence along with substantial fines for him and fellow hunters.
Suspended Sentence for Hunter Who Killed Protected Bear in France
Suspended Sentence for Hunter Who Killed Protected Bear in France
An 81-year-old French hunter faces repercussions after killing an endangered bear during a controversial hunting incident in the Pyrenees.
In a significant case concerning wildlife protection, an 81-year-old hunter from France has been sentenced to a four-month suspended jail term for the unlawful killing of a protected brown bear in the Pyrenees mountains. The incident took place during a boar-hunt in 2021, where the hunter claimed he acted in self-defense as the bear attacked.
The brown bear, affectionately known as Caramelles, weighed approximately 150kg and has since been preserved and displayed at the Toulouse Natural History Museum. The dramatic events unfolded when the hunter and a group of fifteen others were hunting boars in the Mont Valier nature reserve, a region noted for its vulnerable wildlife, when two bear cubs appeared, prompting their mother to charge.
The hunter recounted in court how the bear attacked him, causing him to panic and ultimately shoot the animal. Prosecutors highlighted that the group should not have been hunting in that area as it was outside designated hunting grounds. Alongside the suspended term, the hunter was issued a €750 fine, had his rifle confiscated, and lost his hunting license.
Fines amounting to over €60,000 were imposed on the collective group of hunters in favor of environmental organizations that pursued legal action against them. Advocacy groups, such as Pays de l'ours, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, emphasizing the ruling's significance in raising awareness within the hunting community about protecting endangered species.
Historically, the bear population in the Pyrenees saw a dramatic decline, with only about 70 bears remaining in 1954. Conservation efforts have since improved their numbers, with recent estimates indicating approximately 96 bears now inhabit the region, thanks to a reintroduction program initiated in the 1990s. The case has sparked ongoing discussions regarding wildlife preservation and hunting regulations within France.
