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On late Sunday evening, a man with devastating injuries was found dead in a forest near the town of Detva, central Slovakia. According to the State Nature Protection (ŠOP), preliminary findings indicate that he succumbed to an attack by a brown bear.

This is the fourth death resulting from such incidents in Slovakia's modern history, with the first one in 2021 and two last year.

The attack took place about a kilometre from an urban area. Monitoring devices as well as warnings have been deployed. Preservationists urge people going on hikes to be careful as the warmer weather now increases the chance of meeting the animal.

In response to the attack, Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (SNS nominee) said that Slovakia has a "positive population growth among bears" and that there is a need to embrace an across-the-board regulation of the population.

According to the Sme daily, a record number of bears were killed last year in Slovakia.

Taraba added that on Monday the ŠOP submitted a proposal to cull 350 bears as part of bear population management, and that a motion to declare a state of emergency in locations affected by the presence of bears will be submitted to the Wednesday government session with the aim of facilitating a cull.

Progressive Slovakia's environment expert and legislator Tamara Stohlová criticised Taraba for the proposal, saying the tragedy is a testament to the ministry's failure, and that despite the record number of bears culled, two people were killed in bear attacks. She also criticises the ministry for ignoring preventive measures.