French Hunter Encounters Mother Bear in the Pyrenees
Bitten on the Leg, He Shoots the Bear
Animal Rights Groups Sue for Killing a Protected Species
A French hunter is on trial for shooting and killing a bear that charged at him. On the 18th (local time), the British Guardian reported, "On November 20, 2021, Andre Rives (81) went wild boar hunting in the Pyrenees Mountains and encountered a brown bear."
According to Rives, two bear cubs appeared first in the forest, followed by the mother bear, which charged and attacked him. Ultimately, Rives shot and killed the mother bear with his gun. Rives sustained leg injuries and was in a state of shock; it is known that a companion stopped the bleeding before the rescue helicopter arrived, saving his life. According to authorities' investigation, the mother bear that was shot died about 400 meters outside the hunting permit area.
However, the brown bear is a protected species in the Pyrenees Mountains, which separate France and Spain, causing issues. More than 20 animal rights organizations filed a lawsuit against Rives, accusing him of killing an endangered bear. Additionally, 15 hunters, including Rives, who participated in the hunt were charged with various crimes, including hunting in Montvalley Nature Reserve, one of the oldest protected areas in the Pyrenees.
However, Rives reportedly pleaded in court that "there was no choice but to shoot." He said, "When the cubs first appeared in the forest, I admired and watched them. Then the mother bear appeared, made eye contact with me, and charged straight at me."
He continued, "The mother bear grabbed my left thigh, and in panic, I fired my gun. The mother bear growled and backed away but continued to roam around and bit my right calf. Then she tried to bite my fallen leg, and I reloaded my rifle and shot the mother bear," he explained. Jean-Luc Fernandez, president of the local hunting federation, claimed Rives acted in self-defense. He said, "Should he have just let the mother bear attack him? He saved himself."
Animal rights activists responded, "Bears are essential for maintaining the vulnerable mountain ecosystem threatened by the climate crisis and other factors," and questioned, "He committed a crime by causing the death of a protected female bear; to what extent can the necessity of (self-)defense be claimed?"
The indicted hunters showed inconspicuous signs and argued, "You would have no idea where you are," and "The boundaries of the protected area were not properly marked." However, the prosecutor countered, "It is the hunter's duty to know exactly where they are hunting."
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