Latvia debates bear population control as numbers surge

Latvia faces a debate over its growing bear population, with two citizen initiatives proposing opposing solutions. One initiative advocates for hunting to control bear numbers and protect people and livestock, while the other calls for a ban on hunting and increased state-funded protection programs. The bear population has more than doubled in five years, raising concerns about human encounters. Brown bears are a strictly protected EU species, meaning lethal control is only permitted in exceptional cases after thorough assessment, and alternative prevention methods are prioritized.