Despite an encouraging growth in numbers, France's national biodiversity body has warned that the long-term survival of brown bears in the Pyrenees nonetheless remains uncertain.
The brown bear population in the French Pyrenees is continuing to rise, with at least 96 individuals spotted across the mountain range last year, according to the latest official count.
While these figures are encouraging, experts caution that the future of the species in the region is far from guaranteed.
“In 2024, a minimum of 96 bears were detected throughout the Pyrenean range, including 13 litters producing 22 cubs,” the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) announced on Thursday.
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The OFB coordinates France’s Brown Bear Network and compiles this annual report in collaboration with Spanish and Andorran authorities.
That number is up from 90 individuals the previous year, based on monitoring techniques that include genetic analysis of bear hair and droppings.
The population has been growing at a steady pace, with an average annual growth rate of 11 percent since 2006 – meaning the number of bears is doubling roughly every six years.
Despite this growth, officials remain cautious. “We can’t say for certain whether this trend will continue into 2025, nor can we confirm that the population is yet self-sustaining,” the OFB said.
Genetic challenges
Conservation is more than just a numbers game. Beyond population size, factors such as genetic diversity are vital to long-term survival. A genetically diverse population is better equipped to withstand disease, environmental changes and other pressures.
The Brown Bear Network warns that decreasing genetic variation could threaten the bears’ future. Two studies – one state-commissioned and another backed by pro-bear groups – are currently under way to assess the effects of inbreeding on the Pyrenean population. The full findings are expected by late 2025 and 2026, respectively.
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Environmental groups have long expressed frustration over the lack of new bear introductions.
“The small number of founding bears and their descendants are now interbreeding,” said the Pays de l’Ours-Adet association. “This inbreeding is already linked to smaller litters. It’s vital that we introduce new bears to strengthen the population.”
Despite government promises to replace bears lost to human activity, no new bears have been released following the deaths of four animals in 2020 and 2021.
One hunter is currently facing legal consequences for shooting a female bear, Caramelles, during an unauthorised wild boar hunt in 2021. Prosecutors have requested a suspended four-month prison sentence.
France opens investigation after brown bear shot dead in Pyrenees
Livestock losses
The brown bears in the Pyrenees have come a long way since the 1990s, when only a handful remained.
At that time, a reintroduction programme brought Slovenian bears to the region. But their presence has not always been welcomed, particularly by livestock farmers who suffer losses during summer grazing.
In 2024, there were 310 reported bear attacks on livestock in France, slightly down from 349 in 2023. Beehives saw 14 attacks, up from seven the previous year.
Encouragingly, the bear’s territory continues to grow – now covering 7,200km², an increase of 100km² over the year in 2023.
