NGO Eesti suurkiskjad challenged 11 bear hunting orders issued by the Environmental Board in court. The administrative court partially satisfied the NGO's request. This meant that some permits remained valid while others were suspended.
The circuit court completely suspended the hunting permits. The Environmental Board had previously allowed hunting to continue.
According to Tanel Türn, head of the Environmental Board, issuing special permits is the right decision. It helps with human safety and repeated damage cases.
The number of bears is growing in Estonia. This causes conflicts with humans. The Environmental Board said that living conditions for bears are good.
Türn stated that bear hunting is important. The current court ruling is exceptional because a solution still needs to be found.
The Environmental Board is appealing the court's decision. They want the hunting permits to remain valid.
The number of brown bears in Estonia has grown since 2013. Currently there are about 1100. The Environmental Board has issued permits for hunting 30 bears. Hunters have caught 10 bears.
NGO Eesti suurkiskjad has previously contested bear and wolf hunting permits as well.