The Republic of Georgia sits at a remarkable biodiversity crossroads — Caucasian mountain forests, Black Sea coastline, and semi-arid lowlands harbor species found nowhere else on Earth. As Georgia pursues EU membership, its wildlife welfare and conservation frameworks face urgent pressure to meet European standards.
The Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges crossing Georgia are recognized as one of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots. Georgia's varied habitats support an extraordinary range of species including large carnivores, ungulates, and endemic plants found nowhere else. This biodiversity brings both conservation responsibility and welfare challenges as human-wildlife interactions intensify.
Brown bears are Georgia's most prominent large carnivore, found in mountain forests throughout the country. Bear welfare issues occur across multiple contexts:
Historically, bears were kept in small cages at restaurants and tourist attractions across Georgia — a practice common in post-Soviet states. Four Paws and local partners campaigned for years to end this, resulting in legal changes. However, enforcement remains inconsistent and some captive bears remain in inadequate conditions at roadside attractions.
As Georgia's rural populations decline and forests regenerate, bears are expanding their range and encountering agricultural communities more frequently. Bears raid beehives, orchards, and livestock — triggering retaliatory killing. Welfare-sensitive conflict mitigation (electric fencing, beehive protection, non-lethal deterrents) is underfunded relative to the scale of conflict.
While bear baiting has been illegal under Georgian law, isolated incidents of bears kept for entertainment or fighting purposes have been documented in rural areas. Civil society organizations monitor and report such cases.
The Caucasian leopard (a subspecies of Persian leopard) is critically endangered in Georgia with perhaps 50 or fewer individuals remaining in the country. These animals face severe welfare and conservation challenges:
WWF Georgia, the Caucasus Wildlife Refuge, and government authorities have implemented leopard camera trap monitoring and community compensation programs for livestock losses. These programs reduce retaliatory killing while providing welfare information on individual animals.
| Species | Status in Georgia | Primary Welfare Concern |
|---|---|---|
| Caucasian chamois | Declining | Overhunting, winter severity |
| Eastern chamois | Stable | Trophy hunting pressure |
| Wild boar | Common | Hunting methods, disease |
| Wolf | Present, hunted | Persecution, snare trapping |
| Lynx | Rare | Habitat loss, bycatch in snares |
| Griffon vulture | Present | Poisoning from carcasses |
| Loggerhead sea turtle | Breeding coastline | Bycatch, beach development |
Georgia has a regulated hunting industry, including trophy hunting of Caucasian chamois and other ungulates. Revenue from hunting licenses funds some conservation activity. However, enforcement of bag limits and season restrictions is weak, and illegal hunting (poaching) remains a significant problem. Wire snares set for ungulates frequently catch non-target species including leopards, wolves, and lynx.
Georgia's position as a transit country between Central Asia and Europe makes it a node in wildlife trafficking routes. Species trafficked include raptors (for falconry markets in the Gulf), reptiles (for European pet trade), and bear parts (for traditional medicine). Customs enforcement capacity has improved with EU assistance but remains incomplete.
Georgia's EU candidate status since 2023 creates a powerful driver for wildlife law harmonization with EU standards. The EU Habitats Directive, Birds Directive, and CITES implementation requirements will need to be adopted as part of accession negotiations. This provides animal welfare advocates with a concrete legislative roadmap and political leverage that is rarely available in non-EU-aspiring countries.
Georgia's stunning landscapes — Svaneti, Kazbegi, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park — attract growing ecotourism. Well-managed wildlife tourism creates economic incentives for conservation and welfare-compatible practices. Community-based tourism that shares revenue with villages living alongside leopards and bears reduces human-wildlife conflict motivation.