Drama over rare animal Brown bear released for shooting - but the hunters refuse

A brown bear roamed the Lithuanian capital Vilnius until the government released it for shooting. But the country's hunters are refusing to shoot the rare animal.

For two days, it roamed the suburbs, crossed highways and was followed by onlookers with smartphones and drones: A brown bear, or more precisely a female bear, recently caused quite a stir in and around the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

So another problem bear?

Yes, say the authorities. Although the animal, which had wandered out of the forest towards civilization, showed no aggression, the government issued a permit to shoot it. A decision that met with massive resistance - from the very people who should have shot the bear: The Lithuanian hunters simply refuse to shoot the rare animal, as reported by the British "Guardian ", among others.

"She was frightened, but by no means aggressive"

The hunters' and fishermen's association was shocked by the government's actions. It was a beautiful young bear, about two years old, "frightened but not at all aggressive", association director Ramutė Juknytė told the AP agency: "She just didn't know how to get out of the city - but she didn't do anything bad."

According to the organization, there are currently only five to ten brown bears in Lithuania. However, it is difficult to determine an exact number, as the animals are mainly found in border regions with Latvia and Belarus.

Hunters want an animal-friendly solution

The bear drama began last Saturday when the animal entered urban areas of Vilnius for the first time - a rarity that has not been seen for decades. The bear came within a few kilometers of the city center and became a national media topic.

Deputy Environment Minister Ramūnas Krugelis explained the authorities' decision to allow the cull on Lithuanian television (LRT) as a precautionary measure should the animal pose a threat.

The hunters, on the other hand, pleaded for a more animal-friendly solution: sedation, tracking by GPS and subsequent relocation to a suitable forest area.

Bear left the city herself

But in the end, the animal made her own decision: The bear left the city under her own power. A camera recorded her on Wednesday in a forest around 60 kilometers from Vilnius - relaxed and with a corn cob in her mouth.

Brown bears were long thought to be extinct in Lithuania. Due to intensive hunting and the destruction of their habitat, they almost completely disappeared in the 19th century. In recent years, they have been slowly returning - mostly from neighboring countries with small remaining populations. The brown bear is strictly protected under both Lithuanian and EU law.