The police government has updated its policy for the protection of large carnivores.
Last year, Finnish police ordered the killing of four bears that had been injured after freezing in traps for small predators. The murders received widespread media attention, sparking backlash and criticism from animal rights organizations.
A new police animal protection protocol published last week, which must be followed by all departments, is said to place more emphasis on the right of an injured animal to live.
Kai VepsäläinenThe Inspector of the Police Board emphasized that the police action in recent cases was appropriate to the situation and in line with the current protocol.
"However, we would like to emphasize that solutions other than dismissal are possible under the new guidelines," he said.
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Vepsäläinen also stated that the police would take the puppies into account when considering the fate of the mother bear and, if necessary, consider expert assistance from veterinarians and zoos.
"The policy will not change, but will be clarified and harmonized," he added.
Public criticism
Harri-Pekka PohjolainenThe Chief Commissioner of the Eastern Finland Police Department said he was satisfied with the updated instructions.
According to Pohjalainen, there were an exceptional number of cases in which the bears were trapped in the municipalities of Eno and Lieksa in North Karelia last July, which led to an unprecedented situation for the police.
In particular, two cases received widespread attention in the country. Last August in Lieksa, a hunter of the mother of a wounded bear trapped in a trap killed after police ordered the animal to be killed.
The Ostrobothnian added that the updated Large Carnivore Protocol would not have changed the fate of a seriously injured bear.
In July, Eno also saw another injured mother bear still trapped with its paw and its four puppies.
Attempts were made to find and capture the animal and release it from the trap on several occasions before the authorities finally decided to suspend the search.
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At the end of last year, Eno police ordered the killing of four bear cubs, all less than a year old. The decision was eventually overturned when experts confirmed that the puppies were old enough to survive in the wild.
However, images and information about the case were widely disseminated on social media, leading to strong criticism from animal activists.
The events led to the drafting of a citizens’ initiative calling for a ban on all animal Jenni Haukio, the wife of the president Sauli Niinistö, which questioned the police decision a Tweet. The initiative has since garnered enough signatures to be taken to Parliament for consideration.
"There was no instruction for this [situation]. The individual officials tried their best to take all aspects into account when they were under a lot of pressure," The Ostrobothnian stated.
In August, a rescue patrol consisting of volunteer zoos offered police assistance in Eno’s case. However, the police refused their help on the grounds that they did not have the necessary permits and have since stopped actively searching for the bear. However, the injunction to kill the injured animal remains unchanged.
"According to the new guidelines, a maximum of three weeks is a reasonable time to look for an injured big beast. It must be borne in mind that tracing an animal can cost up to tens of thousands of euros," Vepsälainen pointed out.
"In addition, all outside rescue teams will be barred from police operations. The risks and responsibilities are so great that we prefer to ask only the other authorities for help," he added.
Expert: The new policy is still missing
Birgitta WahlbergThe chairman of Eläinoikeuslakimiehet ry told Yle that although the amendments to the protocol on large carnivores are promising overall, there are still shortcomings in terms of animal rights.
In particular, a condition stating that the pain suffered by an animal injured by a trap for small predators is a sufficient reason to end its life. According to Wahlberg, the police should not blindly follow this requirement because it is too simple.
He also pointed out that the new policy does not specify a maximum time for tracing an animal.
"Decisions on the care of large carnivores will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis. Internal police guidelines do not override stricter animal welfare legislation," Wahlberg stated.