A victory for the jackdaws: four deadly orders from 2022 and 2023 were illegal
On 27 November, the Administrative Court in Rennes overturned four orders authorising the mass culling of jackdaws in the regions of Finistère and Côtes-d’Armor in 2022 and 2023. This is an important victory for these birds which are shot relentlessly every year in Brittany, despite being a protected species. One Voice is calling on the prefectures to respect the court’s decisions and finally turn to non-lethal measures.
Every year, the prefectures of western France order the slaughter of thousands of jackdaws at a time when the young are still dependent on their parents. Although the courts, thanks to our action, urgently suspended three texts targeting these birds in 2022, thus saving 27,000 individuals, they remained deaf to their suffering the following year.
Non-lethal methods exist
On 27 November of this year, the Administrative Court in Rennes finally recognised that four of the orders we had challenged were illegal. These texts, which have once and for a all been declared null, were in no way necessary. In their eagerness to satisfy farmers, government representatives were once again unable to demonstrate that they had sought alternative solutions before ordering these killings. Blocking chimneys, using repellents, targeted feeding, crop rotation… there are many methods of cohabitation. In addition to sparing the animals, these are more sustainable, as shooting is not even effective against crop damage, which the judge was quick to point out, highlighting “the risk of exacerbating the problem by boosting jackdaw populations”.
The courts are no longer fooled
This victory is part of a growing body of case law favouring the jackdaws. At the end of 2024, the Administrative Court of Appeal in Nantes already emphasised the importance of using non-lethal measures before considering killing animals belonging to protected species. Six months later, we obtained the suspension of new orders in three regions, with the same call for the protection of animals.
Wherever jackdaws are targeted, we will continue to respond! Add your voice to ours by signing our petition for radical reform of hunting.