Brown bear (Ursus arctos) in the wild. Photo: Jussi Nukari / Lehtikuva
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A Finnish court has suspended the use of 13 exceptional hunting permits that would have allowed the killing of 129 bears this autumn in the eastern part of the country.
The Administrative Court of Eastern Finland issued the decision on Thursday. It prevents hunters from acting on permits issued by the Finnish Wildlife Agency for the eastern bear population management area.
The court said the interim measure was needed to secure legal protection while it considers appeals submitted by environmental groups.
Three district branches of the Tapiola Association for Nature Conservation challenged the permits. They requested a halt to the hunt while the court reviews the legality of the agency’s decision.
The cancelled permits applied to areas in North Karelia, South-East Finland and parts of Northern Savo. No similar permits were issued this year for the central management area, which includes regions such as Mänttä-Vilppula in Pirkanmaa.
The Wildlife Agency had limited this year’s exceptional permits to the eastern zone. These permits were set to take effect from 20 August. The bear hunting season in Finland is scheduled to end on 31 October.
The court said it plans to issue final rulings on the appeals either later this year or in early 2026. By that time, the legal question will have no practical impact on the current hunting season.
In a written statement, the court said the temporary suspension was necessary “to ensure that effective legal protection is not undermined.”
The Tapiola Association, founded in 2013 in Pirkanmaa, has opposed bear hunting under exceptional permits, citing concerns about population sustainability and the legal basis of the Wildlife Agency’s decisions.
The Finnish Wildlife Agency has not yet responded publicly to the court’s decision.
According to the Natural Re
Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
