An 81-year-old French hunter went on trial on Tuesday, accused of killing an endangered female bear that had attacked him in the Pyrenees.
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The brown bear is a protected species in the mountain range, which separates France and Spain.
Andre Rives was boar-hunting when a female bear nicknamed Caramelles attacked him.
On November 20, 2021, two bear cubs emerged from the woods in front of Rives. Then their mother appeared, charging at him and dragging him for several metres. He shot and killed the animal.
Rives sustained leg injuries and was in a state of shock. A fellow hunter managed to stem the bleeding before he was evacuated by helicopter.
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According to the investigation, the bear was killed 400 metres (1,300ft) outside an authorised hunting area.