# The meat of brown bears, a protected species in the European Union, could soon be available to eat in Slovakia after the populist government approved new plans. Last month, the cabinet authorised a plan to shoot about a quarter of the country’s one-thousand-300 brown bears in response to some recent fatal encounters. It has been criticised by conservationists and opposition politicians, including in the European Parliament. However, Slovakia’s government is forging ahead with the plan and announced that meat from culled bears would be sold to prevent waste.
Slovakia approves sale of brown bear meat to public