An 81-year-old French hunter faced trial on Tuesday for the killing of an endangered female bear that had attacked him in the Pyrenees. The brown bear is a protected species in the mountain range that separates France and Spain. Andre Rives, while boar-hunting, was attacked by a female bear named Caramelles. On November 20, 2021, two bear cubs appeared from the woods in front of Rives, followed by their mother who charged at him, dragging him for several yards. Rives shot and killed the bear in self-defense, sustaining leg injuries and requiring evacuation by helicopter.
The incident occurred 1,300 feet outside an authorized hunting area, sparking controversy in the Ariege region where hunters demonstrated in support of Rives. The presiding judge emphasized that the trial was not about being anti- or pro-bear, but rather focused on the destruction of a protected species. Rives stated in court that he had no choice but to shoot when the mother bear attacked him, causing severe injuries.
Fifteen other hunters involved in the hunt were also facing prosecution for various offenses, including hunting in a nature reserve. The hunters argued that the reserve boundaries were unclear, leading to confusion. Animal rights activists contested the notion of self-defense, emphasizing the importance of preserving bear populations for the ecosystem and pointing out the threats posed by human activity and climate change.
The reintroduction of bears in the Pyrenees in the 1990s aimed to increase their population, but conflicts with farmers have intensified due to livestock threats. The trial highlighted the delicate balance between hunting practices, environmental protection, and species conservation. The controversy surrounding the incident underscored the broader issues at stake in wildlife management and conservation efforts.
Brown bears also inhabit neighboring Italy. Last year, authorities in an alpine Italian province confirmed the death of a female bear suspected of attacking a French hiker, despite objections from animal rights activists. This incident marked the ninth reported aggression towards humans since the reintroduction of brown bears to the province in 1999 as part of a European Union initiative, and it was the first fatal attack since a hiker was killed the previous summer. In September 2023, a man fatally shot an endangered brown bear near an Italian national park, leaving behind her two orphaned cubs and sparking widespread outrage. The park shared a disturbing image of the deceased bear on the ground. Earlier in 2023, a court decision spared the life of a brown bear that had fatally attacked a runner on a mountain trail in Italy’s Alpine region.
