Estonian court suspends special brown bear hunting permits

The Tallinn Administrative Court has issued a 15-day temporary injunction suspending the validity of special permits issued by the Estonian Environmental Board for hunting problematic brown bears. The decision follows a legal challenge by the NGO MTÜ Eesti Suurkiskjad regarding 12 specific hunting orders.

Environmental Board Director Rainer Vakra defended the issuance of special permits, stating they are a necessary measure to ensure human safety when animals become dangerous. He noted that permits are only granted after milder prevention methods fail and when animals pose a direct threat to people, livestock, or agricultural products, such as destroying beehives or repeatedly entering settlements.

The Environmental Board is contesting the complaint and seeking to maintain the validity of the permits. The brown bear population in Estonia has been on an upward trend since 2013, with an estimated population of approximately 1,100. This year, the Board has issued 30 orders for hunting problematic animals, resulting in 9 successful hunts to date.