Trial Begins Over Killing of Protected Bear in Pyrenean Reserve

André Rives faces charges for the illegal hunting and shooting of Caramelles, a symbolic species, during a 2021 incident in a protected area.

The trial of André Rives, accused of killing the bear Caramelles during an illegal hunt in 2021, has started in Foix, Ariège.
Rives claims self-defense after being severely injured by Caramelles, but his presence in a protected reserve complicates his defense.
Investigators revealed that Rives and 17 other hunters were illegally hunting wild boar in the Mont Valier Nature Reserve, where all hunting is prohibited.
Wiretaps uncovered attempts by some hunters to conceal evidence and coordinate their stories during the investigation.
Nineteen environmental associations have joined the trial as civil parties, highlighting the broader debate on biodiversity protection and human accountability.