A criminal process has been initiated regarding the shooting of a bear in the Ogre region. More than one person is involved in the case, the police reported.
The State Police received information from the State Forest Service that a brown bear in the Taurupe parish of the Ogre region became a victim of illegal hunting, and a criminal process was initiated. Possible offenders have been identified, the illegally obtained animal and hunting weapon have been seized, and experts have been appointed.
"The Hunter Was Aware of What He Was Doing"
The LETA agency, citing Valters Lusis, head of the Hunting Department of the State Forest Service, reports that the fact of bear hunting was discovered on Friday during a planned hunting control in that region. According to Lusis, the circumstances indicate that there was no confusion of the bear with another animal, and it did not attack a person. Moreover, the hunting itself was officially approved and took place at night, when hunting for wild boars, foxes, and raccoon dogs is allowed. A weapon with a thermal imaging sight was used.
Lusis also stated that the hunter was on an elevation near a baiting site for animals — such places, created mainly for wild boars, are also popular among bears. After the bear was shot, an assistant arrived to help load the animal — when it was pulled into the trailer, the staff of the State Forest Service confirmed the fact of shooting a protected animal.
"The circumstances indicate that there was no confusion, and the hunter was aware of what he was doing," Lusis stated.
119 Individuals Remain
Lusis also noted: the hunting, as mentioned above, was legal, but some actions prompted inspectors to pay attention to it. Lusis emphasized that this is the first case where it was possible to detect the shooting of a bear and identify the shooter: facts of shooting these animals had been recorded before, but the State Police had not been able to find the offenders.
It should be noted that hunting for brown bears in Latvia is prohibited, as this species is protected. According to the State Forest Service, there is a stable trend of brown bear population recovery in Latvia, and currently, about 120 individuals inhabit the country. For comparison, there are over a thousand in Estonia.
The brown bear is the largest predator found in Latvia. Females can weigh up to 150 kilograms, while males can weigh up to 300. The lifespan of bears exceeds 30 years, and in Latvia, they have no natural enemies. Unless, of course, one considers humans.
