Brown bears are recovering in parts of Europe but increasingly encounter humans as their populations expand. Managing coexistence humanely while protecting both bear welfare and human safety is a growing challenge.
Bear welfare in recovery populations sits at the intersection of conservation, human safety, and rural community interests. Bears killed in conflict situations - often large males or reproductive females - represent both welfare harm to individuals and conservation setbacks. The most effective approaches reduce conflict before it escalates to the point of lethal management, through infrastructure investment in bear-proof containment, livestock protection, and community education. International conservation organizations have a role in supporting range countries to implement evidence-based coexistence strategies that protect both bear welfare and human livelihoods.