Two people were injured in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia, by a bear, marking an increase in incidents of wildlife entering urban spaces. The country debates measures to manage its growing bear population amidst rising attacks.
In a worrying incident in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia, two people were attacked by a bear, leading to a 49-year-old woman sustaining a shoulder injury and a 72-year-old man suffering a gash to the head. This event, captured in a startling video, shows the bear chasing pedestrians through the streets, highlighting the growing concerns over bear encroachment in urban areas. The bear was later chased away into the forest by police officials.
This incident is part of a rising trend of bear attacks in Slovakia, prompting discussions on how to manage the country’s bear population, currently estimated at around 1,275. It follows the recent death of a 31-year-old woman in the nearby Low Tatra mountains, who fell while trying to escape a bear.
There is an ongoing debate between environmentalists, who emphasize coexistence and protection for bears, and some politicians who suggest easing bear protection laws to allow hunting as a population control measure. Efforts are being made at the EU level to address the situation, with proposals to reclassify bears on the protected species list to better manage their numbers in the region.
