Growing up in the densely forested Slovenian countryside, bear sightings were a rare treat for Simon Marolt. But Mr Marolt, a 37-year-old farmer, says he is now encountering them every day - bears lurking in the woods, bears raiding beehives, and bears grunting with annoyance as they blunder into electric fences protecting crops.

“The bear is a beautiful animal, we love him, but this is out of control,” he says, settling into a white plastic chair next to the barn where his 30 cattle are taking refuge from the July heat.

“Now we are seeing them every day, we are wondering, when will they start to attack people?”

Slovenia’s brown bears, which risked extinction in the aftermath of World War Two, have made an extraordinary comeback thanks to recent efforts across Europe to reintroduce once common wild animals.

The country's bear population has now risen to more than 1,000, while nearby Romania has 6,000. But the wildlife boon has brought with it a growing backlash, as night-time raids on beehives and livestock are becoming an almost nightly occurrence.