Sports

In half a century, Belarus has once again taken a bear's life.

Securing a hunting permit is an achievement, but tagging wild prey makes it an extraordinary accomplishment.

, and Administrator

2025 September 16 . 1:43 PM

2 min read

In a recent event, Belarus has executed the first bear shooting in over fifty years.

In half a century, Belarus has once again taken a bear's life.

Belarus has reopened bear hunting after a 45-year hiatus, with around 20 bears scheduled for culling this year. The decision was made due to the increasing number of bears in recent years.

Bear hunting was legalised once again on July 1, and the number of hunting permits issued this year also stands at 20. These permits are issued through a special program to ensure fairness and legality, with the aim of maintaining a balanced bear population.

The program includes a permit auction, which will take place on August 1. This auction is open to all, regardless of the method by which the permit was initially obtained. Each hunter must pay at least Br500, with an additional Br5 for the permit, for Belarusian citizens and those from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). For citizens of other foreign countries, the minimum fee is Br1000.

The auction does not specify how many permits will be available for bidding. It is important to note that the auction does not affect the total number of permits issued this year, which remains 20.

The first seven hunters who received permits in early July failed to catch a bear. However, Denis Klimets, a resident of the Brest region, was among the next batch of permit holders announced on July 15. Denis set off to hunt a bear in the Vitebsk hunting estate immediately after receiving his permit.

Despite the auction, the goal of ensuring fairness and legality in bear hunting remains unchanged. The reopening of bear hunting is a controversial topic, with many advocating for the protection of these majestic creatures. However, the Belarusian government argues that the controlled culling is necessary to maintain a balanced bear population and prevent overpopulation.

As of July 15, there are no search results providing information about who hunted the first bear in Belarus during the newly introduced hunting season. The Belarusian government is committed to transparency and will likely release this information in due course.

In conclusion, bear hunting has resumed in Belarus after a 45-year hiatus, with the aim of maintaining a balanced bear population. The auction for bear hunting permits is a new option for obtaining permits, in addition to the special program. The reopening of bear hunting is a topic of controversy, but the Belarusian government argues that controlled culling is necessary to prevent overpopulation.