A so-called passive hunt: Traps that kill, responsible for animal suffering and death without distinction between species

A so-called passive hunt: Traps that kill, responsible for animal suffering and death without distinction between species
07.09.2018
France
A so-called passive hunt: Traps that kill, responsible for animal suffering and death without distinction between species
Natural habitat

In this new opening of the hunting season, One Voice recalls its fight for the prohibition of these killing traps that massacre and mutilate thousands of wild animals which are protected or domestic species.

At the end of summer 2018 hunting is in the heart of the news. They are entitled to some generosity such as the reduction in the price of their hunting licenses. One Voice would like to reiterate that it is calling for the ban of one of its most cowardly practices, trapping and especially traps used for killing. Passive, unobtrusive and almost silent in its way of hunting, except for the cries of the animals that death did not come instantly for and who live their last moments of life in a long and violent agony. When a victim manages to break free from these murderous mechanisms, they remain mutilated. Thousands of wildlife species including protected and domestic species are experiencing this fatal method of hunting every year.

Two days of training for the pleasure to be able to pose death traps.

Trapping in particular can be practiced all year round. When it is not under the guise of hunting, it is to get rid of so-called « nuisance » animals. We know how much humans have shown for a long time, their ability to refer to so called « harmful » individuals in the animal species as with their congeners. Two days of training with the departmental hunting federations are enough to transform you, from the age of 16, into a seasoned trapper with approval issued by the Prefecture.

The killing traps, the fatal categories of trapping.

Highly regulated (decree of January 29^th2007), this practice uses traps that have been divided into 5 categories, two of which refer to killing traps, category 2 and category 5. The traps for other categories that are supposed not to kill are neither less violent so far: they enrapture, they mutilate and use baits that can also be live animals. In any case, the final outcome still remains death. Meanwhile, the hunter can go about other hunting activities, he only needs to come back to check on his traps to finish the massacre as a self-proclaimed ecologist who carries a bloody game sack.

Walking in « nature », the dangers of death with each step taken by the animals.

The ultimate and unique reason for these deadly traps is to turn any animal that comes near them into corpses of warm and bloodied flesh. Nothing is left to the imagination which does not fail to take a life: broken neck, crushed spine, strangulation or drowning, the latter method is now prohibited in several departments. There still remains the wires or the cords which strangle or hold the victim by a paw. The steel jaw traps which originate from the wolf traps, which are used for instant death, seem to be the most popular. They have many derivatives, bait traps, egg traps or livre de messe (hymn book traps). And yes, that’s its name in French! You won’t find this in the book of Catechism; This Gospel according to Nimrod consists of 2 metal parts that will crush the body of the first curious animal that comes close, perhaps your cat or your dog with whom you decided to go for a country walk with.

Strict regulation without visible sanctions.

Of course, the use and installation of these killing traps are subject to strict regulations: more than 200 meters from a dwelling, more than 50 roads and laneways open to the public and these traps must be flagged in a manner that is apparent. Now as your animal companion cannot read, then what does this brave hunter do? Especially as there is alas a certain negligence in regulating this and also the dialogue of non-compliance.

A much needed and immediate ban of these traps that kill

These killing traps are nonselective. Killing thousands of wild species, the young and their progenitors, we must also add to this the domestic species that are also trapped and if these mechanisms do not kill them, they end up with multiple injuries. Not to forget our protected species (squirrel, hedgehog and other otters). This so-called passive form of hunting by laying traps still remains a method that is even more cruel and barbaric than the shot from these shoddy Buffalo Bill types against the wild animals of our woods like Sologne or anywhere else. One Voice calls for the end of these practices, more restrictive regulations and sanctions to match these massacres. We must continue to denounce them and ask for their prohibition. Please sign and share our petition!

A counter-power to the hunters must emerge!

A counter-power to the hunters must emerge!
31.08.2018
Paris
A counter-power to the hunters must emerge!
Natural habitat

Tuesday, August 28th, 2018, the Minister for the Ecological and Supportive Transition, also a Minister of State, resigned live on the radio. He was alone in bringing the voice of nature and animals to the government and in the « majority ». Why this departure? Because this was an umpteenth meeting with the President of the Republic and the hunters, always offering more latitude to these predators of nature.

Since the election of the new President of the Republic, the hunters have received nothing but gifts and have not faced any setbacks or conceded anything! The cause of wild animals has never been so precarious. Worse, their defenders are threatened and attacked! It is time to change; the population is ready for reforms to restrict the rights of hunters. Impunity must stop. So many species are disappearing; France must take its share of the responsibility. We call on all animal welfare associations in France and Europe to join us in Paris on Saturday 13th October for a big gathering against hunting, for the respect of animals and the safeguarding of biodiversity.

For months now we had realised that Nicolas Hulot was a « token green » for the President of the Republic, nothing more to him than a nice political trophy. With the resignation of the minister announced live on France Inter Tuesday August 28th 2018, it is confirmed. Emmanuel Macron’s « Make our planet great again » was nothing but dust, the president eats from the hunters’ hand. The straw that broke the camel’s back: a meeting held the day before for which Nicolas Hulot had demanded the absence of the lobbyist for guns and hunting; when he arrived, he was waiting for him. Ahead of the President’s response, (« I do not know how this gentleman had arrived »), Nicolas Hulot considered they were making fun of him.

We recall that in France hunting kills every year 45 million wild animals – or from animals bred for hunting- not counting the « collateral » human and animal victims. Now we are experiencing the sixth mass extinction!

Hunting is neither a hobby nor a lifestyle! And it is not by replacing the words « kill » and « shoot » with those of « manage », « harvest » or « serve » that the practice is less cruel to animals and less harmful to nature. It is time for such destructive activity to be banned.

Since May 2017, the cruel ways of hunting birds continue whilst our European neighbours restrict or prohibit them. Hunting with hounds and horses scandalizes the population, but huntsmen continue to whack horses and dogs with whips while terrorizing and slaughtering animals in the undergrowth. Foxes are hunted all year long even during the breeding season and right into their burrows and even at night. Dozens of wolves are condemned to death each year, despite being a protected species. The hunters are even empowered by some police chiefs to take over the work of gendarmes, and thus a private militia is born! It is an independent militia that seizes the opportunity! Walkers are in danger in the forests, including at weekends and during holidays. the halving of the cost of a hunting licence that allows killing almost for free… This is extremely worrying and dangerous. Love for nature does not go hand in hand with destruction, degradation and animal suffering, but only with respect and wonder. 

We demand a deep and radical reform of hunting while waiting for its outright ban. Push forward with us:

1. An independent hunting police;
2. A ban of hunting species with a precarious conservation status ;
3. A ban of hunting during the breeding season ;
4. A ban on killing traps ;
5. The end of « traditional » hunting methods (glue, dead fall traps for birds, snares, hunting on lacs, hunting on the slopes …) ;
6. A ban on underground hunting for all species ;
7. A ban on hunting with hounds for all species ;
8. A ban on hunting in protected areas (National Parks, Nature Reserves, Ecological Reserves) ;
9. 2 day a week without hunting or trapping (including Sundays) and during the whole of the school holidays;
10. Yearly compulsory health’s check to obtain a hunting licence including an eye test.

Please sign and share our petition! And join us along with many others on October 13th in Paris!