What happens when wolves return to our forests and bears wander into our valleys? For farmers and beekeepers, this can mean real challenges – protecting their animals, securing their hives, and finding ways to coexist with predators that were once almost gone.
At the September 2025 stakeholder meeting, voices from Slovenia, Slovakia, Czechia, Poland, and Hungary came together to share experiences. Despite different landscapes and traditions, there was a common thread in the stories: coexistence is possible when people, science, and communities work together.
Across borders, participants agreed that prevention is key. It is not enough to pay compensation after losses; farmers and breeders need real directed support, quick advice, and trust that solutions work.
Livestock breeders in Slovenia are testing livestock-guarding dogs, strong fences, and night shelters. In Slovakia’s Poloniny region, practical brochures and school activities are helping locals learn how to stay safe around bears. Czech conservationists stressed that the best protection comes not from one measure, but from combinations – a guarding dog and an electric fence are much stronger together than alone.
The meeting also highlighted the human side of coexistence – mistrust, misinformation, and lack of political will often stand in the way of progress. Yet, the more farmers, conservationists, and authorities talk and learn together, the more trust and solutions grow.
The message was clear – with cooperation, education, and practical support, we can protect both grazing animals and the predators that share our landscapes.