Hunter found guilty of shooting an assaulting bear and given probation in France - Hunter in France receives probation as judgment for illegal hunting activity
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An elderly French hunter, 81, found himself in hot water after shooting a critically important bear named Caramelles. The guy claimed it was all about self-defense. According to him, he stumbled upon two cubs and got attacked by their mama bear—nearly 150 kilograms of fury! The incident left him with some nasty leg injuries and dragged him across the ground like a ragdoll.
Looks like the court wasn't entirely convinced with the 'I-was-just-defending-myself' tale. The verdict? A four-month suspended sentence! But wait, there's more. The hunter was found guilty of killing a protected animal and violating hunting regulations.
Apparently, the hunting party had wandered into a protected area near Mont-Valier in the Pyrenees back in November 2021. The bear was shot approximately 400 meters outside the legal hunting zone. One of the hunters argued in court that the markings for the hunting area were hard to see. The prosecutor, however, was quick to point out that it's their job to know exactly where they can—and can't—hunt.
Animal and nature conservation organizations weren't amused, jumping in as co-plaintiffs. They weren't totally against hunting, but they wanted the rules to be followed to ensure the environment stays undamaged. Their lawyer, Julie Rover, made it clear that they wanted regulations respected to protect the environment.
Bears were on the brink of extinction in the French Pyrenees at the start of the '90s. The current population is thanks to bears reintroduced from Slovenia. By 2024, 96 bears had been identified, with the total population estimated to be as high as 127.
But it isn't all sunshine and roses. Inbreeding among bears poses a threat to their genetic diversity. Conservationists are pushing for the release of more animals to help keep the population genetically diverse. However, this could ruffle feathers among livestock farmers, who face regular attacks from these bears on their herds. Last year alone, there were 310 such attacks on cattle, sheep, and goats, which is 39 fewer than the previous year.
Here's the lowdown- Hunter: 81-year-old French guy who shot a protected bear- Bear: Female brown bear critical to genetic diversity- Probationary Sentence: Four-month suspended sentence for the hunter- Hunting: Involved in a protected area in the Pyrenees- Pyrenees: Mountain range in southwestern Europe where the bear was shot- Environment: Impacted by the hunting incident
Sources:1. The Guardian2. Reuters3. National Geographic4. WWF5. Mongabay
The 81-year-old hunter, despite claiming self-defense, was found guilty of killing a protected bear, Caramelles, in the Pyrenees, a violation of hunting regulations.The incident occurred in November 2021, approximately 400 meters outside the legal hunting zone, leading to a four-month suspended sentence for the hunter.*Conservation organizations, co-plaintiffs in the case, demand the respect of wildlife regulations to preserve the environment, especially considering the genetic diversity of bears in the Pyrenees.
