MPs to Deal with Amendment on Regulation of Bears via Fast-track Procedure

Bratislava, April 30 (TASR) - The House will deal with an amendment to the law on nature protection, addressing the situation regarding excessive populations of bears, via fast-track legislative proceedings, MPs decided in a vote on Tuesday. In line with the draft amendment, a state of emergency could be declared in connection with the presence of brown bears in a similar manner as in the case of an earthquake or terrorist attack. When such an emergency is declared, it should be prohibited to create bait sites that could attract bears. At the same time, municipalities would be obliged to remove already existing bait sites in areas in which a state of emergency has been declared. If bait sites aren't the cause of the presence of bears, the draft would allow exemptions for eliminating problematic individual animals that represent a potential threat to the lives or health of people and damage to their property. ko/df