Court suspends permits to hunt problem bears in Estonia

Tallinn Circuit Court has suspended permits to hunt problem bears in Estonia pending a ruling on an appeal by the NGO Eesti Suurkiskjad, ERR reports.

The NGO challenged 11 orders issued by the Environmental Board authorising the hunting of problem bears. On Monday, Tallinn Administrative Court partially granted the NGO’s request for interim legal protection, leaving some permits valid while suspending others until the dispute is finally resolved.

The circuit court has now suspended the permits that the administrative court had allowed to remain in force, meaning hunting could continue from September 14.

Tanel Türna, head of the Environmental Board’s hunting and aquatic life department, said issuing special permits in carefully considered and justified cases had been the right choice for bears that pose a danger to people or repeatedly cause damage.

“Continuing to hunt problem bears under carefully considered and justified special permits is important both for public safety and in cases involving animals that repeatedly cause damage,” Türna said.

The Environmental Board said bear numbers in Estonia were increasing and that encounters between people and bears had recently been causing problems almost every day. The board is contesting the appeal and has asked that the hunting permits remain valid.

The current court order does not rule out the issuing of justified special permits for problem bears in the future.

Estonia’s brown bear population has grown since 2013 and is now estimated at around 1,100. This autumn, the Environmental Board ordered the hunting of 30 animals displaying problematic behaviour. Hunters have killed 10 of them under those permits.

Eesti Suurkiskjad has previously challenged permits to hunt bears and wolves.