Sweden's Brown Bear Hunt Sparks Conservation Concerns

Licenses issued to kill nearly 500 bears, raising fears of a 20% population decline

Environmentalists warn that the current hunting quota could critically impact the bear population.
Sweden's brown bear population has been decreasing, with estimates showing a significant drop since 2008.
Strict regional quotas are set, but conservationists argue they are too high for sustainable population levels.
The annual hunt aims to balance predator numbers with human and livestock safety, but critics call it a 'trophy hunt.'
Neighboring Norway bans bear hunting, while Finland has similar regulated hunting practices.