In Belarus, by order of Alexander Lukashenko, hunting of endangered species — specifically bears and lynx — was allowed. Previously, hunting them was prohibited due to their low numbers. During a discussion on this topic on November 15, 2024, on the state-run TV “Belarus 1”, “Editors’ Club” program, Vadim Gigin claimed that the populations of certain forest-dwelling animals were growing only in Belarus.
Here is what he in particular said, highlighting the alleged country’s achievements in environmental issues:
“In which European country are the populations of bison, lynx, and bears growing? In none. They aren’t there.”
“This reflects a specific action taken to improve the ecological situation,” the program’s guest added, who was Olga Shpilevskaya, the director of the Belarusian representation of the Russian state-run Interstate Television and Radio Company “Mir.”
The WTF team researched how much the populations of certain animals have changed in Belarus and other countries.
The global bison population is monitored by the Bison Pedigree Book. Its compilers request official information from the countries included in the catalog each year. In Belarus, over the last 20 years, the number of bison has increased from fewer than 600 to more than 2,700, according to the Book. As of 2023, Belstat reported the latest figure as 2,833 bison, which is a hundred more than before.
Poland has roughly the same number of bison as Belarus, and over the last 20 years, its population has grown 3.5 times. The leader in population growth is Russia, where an eightfold increase has been recorded. However, the number of bison there is still lower than in Poland or Belarus. Bison populations are also increasing in France, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ukraine, and several other countries. Worldwide, the number of these animals has nearly quadrupled in the past 20 years — right now exceeding 11,000.
The populations of bears and lynx are also increasing in Europe. Depending on the species, their populations in different countries are either multiplying or remaining stable.
Global trends for wildlife are concerning. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the average size of monitored wild animal populations has decreased by over 70% in the last 50 years, primarily due to agricultural development, overhunting, overfishing, the introduction of invasive species, and diseases.
