Help Protect Russia's Bears!
There are proposals in Russia to allow bears to be killed throughout the winter, while they are hibernating and at their most vulnerable. There are also proposals to eliminate hunting quotas entirely and introduce substantial cash rewards for killing bears. These measures are being justified by claims that Russia's bear population has grown to 300,000, even though serious questions remain about the reliability of these estimates and the methods used to calculate them. Officials also point to an increase in bears approaching human settlements, while acknowledging that food shortages in the wild are among the causes. Scientific research supports the importance of these factors: researchers have linked human-bear conflicts to human encroachment on natural ecosystems, habitat destruction, and the loss of natural food sources.
Behind these developments is a broader lobbying effort to dramatically expand recreational and sport hunting, including the practice of killing bears in their dens. In 2024, Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources itself proposed changes that would have allowed bear hunting during the winter, alongside broader efforts to expand hunting opportunities. Furthermore, in September 2026, regional officials openly discussed obstacles to exporting bear paws and bile to China and expressed their intention to address those obstacles, directly linking the economic profitability of hunting to the number of bears killed.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
Scientifically supported methods of preventing human-bear conflicts already exist, and their effectiveness has been demonstrated in real-world conditions without the mass killing of animals. Many of these problems can be addressed through modern conservation practices and proven technical solutions.
We have prepared a detailed collective petition addressed to the Government of the Russian Federation and other government authorities. We demand an end to efforts to weaken legal protections for bears. We need as many people as possible to submit the petition in their own names! Only strong public participation can stop these developments.
Step One.
Download and read the collective petition.
File Download the Document (PDF)
Please read it carefully. It contains detailed information about the situation, documented facts, scientific research, and our specific demands.
Step Two.
Write a short message in your own name and, importantly, in your own words. It should be a genuine personal appeal reflecting your position, rather than a mass mailing of identical messages.
Suggested Message:
We are submitting a public collective petition from citizens of the Russian Federation concerning the expansion of brown bear hunting, the introduction of government-funded payments for killing bears, and proposals to eliminate hunting quotas and permit hunting during the hibernation season. These measures are being promoted amid an extensive media campaign about a supposed "bear invasion," without publicly available, independent scientific evidence establishing their necessity or effectiveness. We are particularly concerned about the documented commercial interests of the hunting industry and the failure to adequately consider scientifically supported methods of preventing conflicts between humans and wildlife.
We strongly oppose weakening legal protections for brown bears. We demand an independent federal scientific audit, an investigation into potential hunting industry lobbying, an end to unjustified financial incentives for killing bears, and the implementation of effective measures to protect both people and natural ecosystems. A detailed account of the facts, scientific evidence, regulatory documents, and our specific demands is provided in the attached collective petition. We request a substantive review of this petition and an official, reasoned written response within the legally prescribed period.
Use your own words to express the concerns and arguments you consider most important.
Step Three.
Submit your message to the Government of the Russian Federation and other government authorities using the links below. Enter your message in the "Текст письма" ("Message Text") field and attach our detailed collective petition as a supporting document.
Government of the Russian Federation: Click here to submit
Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation: Click here to submit
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation: Click here to submit
Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma: Click here to submit
State Duma Public Reception Office: Click here to submit
You can complete the form multiple times, selecting different members of the State Duma to receive your petition. We recommend submitting your appeal to the following officials: Elena Panova — Chair of the Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources, and Environmental Protection; Dmitry Kobylkin — Leader of the United Russia parliamentary faction; Gennady Zyuganov — Leader of the Communist Party (CPRF) faction; Leonid Slutsky — Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) faction; Sergey Mironov — Leader of the A Just Russia faction; Alexey Nechaev — Leader of the New People faction; Vladimir Kashin — Chair of the Committee on Agrarian Affairs. We also recommend submitting appeals to other members of the State Duma Committee on Ecology.
- Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources (Rosprirodnadzor): Click here to submit
The more people submit appeals, the greater our chances of influencing the situation. Our immediate goal is to generate widespread public attention and prevent the legalization of winter bear hunting, the elimination of hunting quotas, and other measures that would severely weaken protections for these animals.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Share this information on your social media pages and ask your friends and family to participate. Share the link to our "Green Page." We are closely monitoring developments, working with our allies in government, establishing contacts, and exploring every available avenue to influence the situation.
Unfortunately, we all understand how difficult it is to achieve meaningful change under the current circumstances. But we will keep trying. We must make every possible effort to protect wildlife! Public pressure can make a real difference. If large numbers of people demand that these measures be stopped, we have a chance to change the outcome. Remember that in 2024, the Ministry of Natural Resources proposed changes to hunting regulations that would have allowed bears to be killed during winter hibernation. We stood against that proposal alongside conservationists across Russia and worked to stop it.
Fight for Life! Right now, you are the voice of the Russian Taiga!
© PAVEL PASHKOV
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