Slovenia will this year allow hunters to kill 75 brown bears and 12 wolves to limit the damage they do to crops and livestock and prevent numbers growing, according to the environment ministry.

Slovenia, which has the highest density of brown bears in Europe, has seen the mammals moving closer to villages and cities in search of food.

"Our expert studies show that the population of wolves is on the rise while the population of bears would also be growing without this measure," said Mladen Berginc, head of the sector for nature conservation policy.

Last year hunters killed 79 bears and seven wolves, while damage caused by bears and wolves amounted to some €430,000, down from about €450,000 in 2008.

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