A court in Bratislava has ruled that the Slovak Ministry of Environment's decision to allow the hunting of eight bears in the Liptov region was unlawful. This ruling is the first of 33 lawsuits filed against the ministry by environmental groups, including Aevis and the initiative My we are forest, alongside the NGO Via Iuris. The court found that the ministry's approval process for hunting exceptions lacked the necessary public participation, and was based on relatively new legislation that permits such exceptions during a declared emergency without input from local communities or organizations.

The ministry's actions came under scrutiny as it issued 61 exceptions in 2025, allowing for the hunting of 276 bears, which raised significant concerns among conservationists. Critics of the ministry argued that the bears targeted for hunting had not been properly identified as problematic, thereby violating ecological guidelines as outlined by European habitat directives, which Slovakia is required to adhere to.

This decision from the Bratislava court not only invalidates the specific hunting exceptions but also mandates the ministry to revisit its processes regarding how these exceptions are granted. It highlights the ongoing tension between wildlife conservation efforts and governmental policies that may permit hunting under emergency clauses without adequate public or expert scrutiny. The implications of this ruling could affect future wildlife management practices in Slovakia and spotlight the need for better preservation of biodiversity in light of conservation law directives.