In Slovakia, another man has been seriously injured in a bear attack. According to BILD, the government is now allowing up to 350 animals to be shot.

A 50-year-old man has been attacked and seriously injured by a brown bear in the popular skiing and hiking area of Králiky near Banská Bystrica. According to the BILD newspaper, the incident occurred in the middle of the village – the affected region is particularly popular with tourists. The man suffered an open wound to his thigh and was immediately taken to a nearby hospital.

The exact circumstances of the attack are still unclear. According to BILD, the state nature conservation agency immediately installed camera traps to identify the animal and document its movements. In addition, warning signs were put up in the region to alert walkers and hikers.

Government allows up to 350 bears to be shot

The Slovakian government had already responded to the increase in such incidents at the beginning of April: As BILD reported in an earlier article, a government emergency plan provides for the shooting of up to 350 brown bears – a massive intervention in species protection, which the authorities justify with the increasing danger to human life. Roman Fajth, Director General of Slovak Nature Conservation, emphasized to BILD that the aim was to find a balance between species protection and public safety.

Increasing danger from bear encounters

In February 2025, a 38-year-old nature photographer was attacked by a bear in the village of Fačkov. The man survived with serious injuries, as reported by BILD at the time: bite wounds to his knee, thigh, and hip required several weeks in the hospital.

An incident in October 2024 ended even more dramatically: a 63-year-old mushroom picker was fatally injured by a bear near Hybe in northern Slovakia. According to the report in the BILD newspaper, the animal tore open a major artery, and the man bled to death at the scene.

Public debate about species protection vs. safety

In light of these incidents, a heated debate has erupted in Slovakia. While conservationists point to the important role brown bears play in the ecosystem, citizens’ initiatives and local politicians are calling for tougher measures to protect the population. The government has so far responded with increased monitoring and locally limited hunting permits – but pressure is growing.