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Environment minister proposes cutting trees to stop "hiding" bears

Slovakia has a problem with bears. According to experts, the bear has become a synathrope, meaning an animal that lives near humans and benefits from their activity. Some come close to municipalities in search of food. Recent reports of attacks prompted Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba (SNS nom.) to act. Originally, he proposed a constitutional law that would allow the killing of brown bears, calling it "the most direct and elegant solution". The possibility of killing the animal in a municipality was included, as well as up to 500 metres away from a municipality. The draft did not state that…