Mountain Galliformes: more than a thousand birds spared from hunting

Mountain Galliformes: more than a thousand birds spared from hunting
06.11.2023
France
Mountain Galliformes: more than a thousand birds spared from hunting
Wildlife

So that the birds at the mountain tops get some respite, we have made sure that hunters did not get any. Since the end of August, we have attacked numerous decisions made by prefects or directly by hunters’ federations with emergency interim proceedings. Their aim is to allow the killing of black grouse, rock partridges, hazel grouse, rock ptarmigans, and grey partridges in the Pyrénées. Judges have announced numerous suspensions, thus sparing the lives of a considerable number of mountain Galliformes.

In the Alps, more than a thousand birds will not be riddled with bullets

The Grenoble and Marseille Administrative Tribunals (ATs) have suspended hunting, sometimes based on our reasoning linked to the intolerable nature of hunting animals that are already shaken up by the consequences of global warming and the constant disruption linked with tourist numbers in mountain ranges, and sometimes on more technical arguments. More than once, prefects have simply given carte blanche to hunters and left them to determine the quotas of animals to be killed themselves.

The absurdity of continuing to kill individuals whose species is in a poor state of conservation also hits home when it comes to hazel grouse in Isère and before the Marseille judge whose rulings made it possible for black grouse and rock partridges to be spared in their masses.

Despite a few steps back, the fight continues

There are unfortunately several downsides when it comes to the Pyrénées and Alpes-Maritimes departments, where we clashed with the against-the-tide line of reasoning from the Montpellier, Toulouse, Pau, and Nice Administrative Tribunals, who rejected our requests. The disappointment is particularly bitter because, due to a lack of suspension, the bloodbath of partridges, grouse, and rock ptarmigans has in fact happened.

But we are not discouraged yet. Although the cancellations that we will obtain a posteriori will not bring the birds back to life, they will be used in future appeals to potentially spare the next ones. In fact, given the energy used by the State to pander to hunters’ every whim – as evidenced by a new decree just after the suspension of the previous one in the Pyrénées-Orientales, where questionable experiments were aimed at reviving the traditional hunting of larks, lapwings, etc. – there is no doubt that the massacring of mountain birds, even though they are threatened everywhere, will be authorised for the 2024-2025 season.

In total, the lives of 20 hazel grouse in Isère, 422 rock partridges (6 in Haute-Savoie, 219 in Savoie, 35 in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and 162 in the Hautes-Alpes) and of 723 black grouse (201 in Haute-Savoie, 404 in Savoie, 45 in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and 73 in the Hautes-Alpes) will be saved with our actions! How is it accepted that we, animal defenders, have to end up hindering the prefectures who authorise this themselves?

Our rallying helps to give these fragile animals visibility, silent witnesses to their own decline, and to protect them from guns. No bird or animal has to die at the hands of a small group of humans for their entertainment. We will continue to hammer this home until the State listens to reason.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Stella, the wolfdog threatened with death in France, could live safely in Italy

Stella, the wolfdog threatened with death in France, could live safely in Italy
05.11.2023
Italy
Stella, the wolfdog threatened with death in France, could live safely in Italy
Wildlife

At the beginning of May 2023, we received a concerning report: a wolfdog found herself in a pound and was at risk of being euthanised if no solution was found. After the initial misunderstandings, we put a chain of solidarity in place in order to find a placement solution. On 3 June, Stella arrived at our Animanatura sanctuary in Italy. Thus begins a new life, sheltered from all danger.

On 2 May 2023, we were contacted by a wildlife specialist. A pound asked her to take charge of a hybrid wolf, dependent on specific legislation. Due to lack of space, she cannot take the animal, named Stella, in, and has already contacted a number of approved establishments, which do not have the possibility – or the desire in some cases – to participate in this rescue.

In France, problems are regulated with lethal injections

In the pound since March and with no opportunity for placement, time was running out for Stella who was at risk of being slaughtered if a solution was not found quickly.

Faced with the urgency of the situation, we got ourselves organised and in less than twenty-four hours, a place was secured in our Animanatura Wild Sanctuary which already welcomed lions Céleste, Hannah, Marli, and Patty in May 2022 who we saved from the Cirque de Paris Circus three years ago.

A new life in Italy

Stella’s transfer was finally authorised by the authorities with some difficulty! After having taken her in and scheduled her vaccinations and neutering, issued her with a passport, organised transport, built a temporary welcome park in Italy, even though everything was ready, we thought that everything was going to be cancelled due to an internal disagreement within the administrations responsible for approving her departure, with some comparing Stella to a wolf or a hybrid, and others to a dog… This would have all been for nothing without our willpower and the determination of our local ally, who we thank warmly.

Stella was finally authorised to leave French soil on Friday 2 June in the morning. After a long journey, she arrived in Tuscany the next day. She is currently living in her transition park. Soon, she will find herself in a more spacious park that we are building for her, where she will spend the rest of her life in semi-freedom, cared for and protected from any dangers.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Traditional hunting: thousands of birds will be trapped in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and in Landes

Traditional hunting: thousands of birds will be trapped in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and in Landes
03.11.2023
France
Traditional hunting: thousands of birds will be trapped in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and in Landes
Wildlife

The Pau Administrative Tribunal has just rejected our two pleas and those by the LPO. Even though the State Council already considered the use of these devices to be illegal, shameful experiments paving the way for the return of hunting field larks with cages and nets was therefore able to continue in Landes and the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Hunters’ vociferations before the Tribunal, after the suspension of the first three decrees in Ardennes, Lot-et-Garonne, and Gironde, were heard. Pathetic!

Whatever the result of these experiments may be, the government takes it for granted: if they once again authorise hunting next year, we will be there, as we have always been since 2018, to ensure that the law is being followed and, above all, to protect birds from hunters, who impatiently wait to be able to capture and kill thousands of field larks with their bare hands once again.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

We are asking for the complete cancellation of the decree listing species likely to cause damage before the courts and on the streets

We are asking for the complete cancellation of the decree listing species likely to cause damage before the courts and on the streets
31.10.2023
France
We are asking for the complete cancellation of the decree listing species likely to cause damage before the courts and on the streets
Wildlife

On 4 August 2023, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition published a new decree naming the list of ‘species likely to cause damage’. For the next three years, prefects in each department can authorise the trapping and slaughter of these targeted animals, even outside of hunting periods. We are asking the State Council to cancel this cynical law and we are rallying our volunteers in eighteen towns throughout the month of November.

Foxes, martens, weasels, stone martens, carrion crows, rooks, magpies, starlings, and jays… Named as ‘pests’ since 2016, the Ministry is now using the term ‘species likely to cause damage’ without this changing anything about the persecution that they are victims of. Targeted by a new ministerial decree valid for three years and created due to demands from agricultural and hunting lobbies, all of them risk being tracked, trapped, and massacred even outside of the hunting periods that are already authorised, in all departments where the prefects have given this gift to shooting enthusiasts who wish to practise their hobby all year round. Even though 71% of French people are in favour of a ban on trapping these animals according to our recent survey (Ipsos/One Voice Survey, October 2023).

We are referring to the State Council

We have attacked this law since it was published by filing an emergency interim proceeding, then, like other associations, a plea before the State Council. Today, we are continuing this momentum and reinforcing our initial request with an even more developed case file requesting a pure and simple cancellation of this law which rules that economic interests or human comfort take precedence over animals’ lives and biodiversity by de facto allowing hunting outside of the season and the continual trapping of the species concerned. In particular, our request targets around thirty cases* dependent of the species on a departmental level, and above all the pure and simple removal of foxes, rooks, and martens from the ministerial list of species likely to cause damage on a national level.

Throughout the month of November, we are organising coordinated action in around fifteen towns

We will be in Aix-en-Provence, Amiens, Gap, Limoges, Metz, Montpellier, Paris, and Troyes on the 11^th, Bordeaux and Nice on the 12^th, Bar-Le-Duc and Lille on the 18^th, and in Nantes on the 25^th, as well as in Angers, Falaise, La Rochelle, Rouen, and Strasbourg to defend these unwanted animals against the government’s destructive obsession (NB: check the event online before going).

The majority of you supported us in our fight during the public consultation. Continue to oppose these massacres of animals that populate our forests and our countryside along with us!

*One Voice’s requests for de-classification

• Martens in the following departments: Aube, Aude, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Orientales, Saône-et-Loire (6)
• Stone martens: Ain, Allier, Landes, Morbihan, Vendée (5)
• Weasels: Pas-de-Calais (the only department where the species is classified) (1)
• Magpies: Ariège, Aveyron, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, Loiret, Maine-et-Loire, Mayenne, Morbihan, Tarn (9)
• Carrion crows: Aveyron, Hautes-Alpes (2)
• Jays: Corrèze, Tarn-et-Garonne (2)
• Starlings: Corrèze, Eure, Gironde, Loiret, Meuse (5)

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Traditional hunting in Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Ardennes: the legal system suspends shameful trials!

Traditional hunting in Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Ardennes: the legal system suspends shameful trials!
27.10.2023
France
Traditional hunting in Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Ardennes: the legal system suspends shameful trials!
Wildlife

We have just learnt that the Bordeaux and Châlons-en-Champagne Administrative Tribunals, which we referred to, have urgently suspended the decrees authorising the capture of thousands of birds using so-called ‘traditional’ methods in Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Ardennes – for the latter department, the LPO has also filed an emergency interim proceeding.

It is a huge victory for the 3000 field larks (2000 in Gironde and 1000 in Lot-et-Garonne), the 500 lapwings, and 15 golden plovers in Ardennes who will not be trapped in hunters’ nets and cages! Under the cover of ‘scientific research’ the government was looking to revive traditional hunting in any way possible, despite overwhelming repeated victories at the State Council since 2018, with the support of the European Court of Justice who had criticised France.

Thanks to these decisions, we can hope more than ever that these types of cruel hunting will soon be nothing but a distant memory.

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition would be well advised to no longer try to revive these hunting methods. Instead of giving special favours to obtain a few votes or sending out scratch cards to save ‘wildlife’, they should be worrying about truly protecting the animals that live in our country.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

One Voice is bringing a civil case to the tribunal against a bird poacher in Montauban

One Voice is bringing a civil case to the tribunal against a bird poacher in Montauban
25.10.2023
Tarn-et-Garonne One Voice is bringing a civil case to the tribunal against a bird poacher in Montauban
Wildlife

On 26 October at 9am, we will be at the Montauban legal tribunal for the blue tits, great tits, goldfinches, and blackcaps who are victims of a poacher that lives in the south of Tarn-et-Garonne. The man, not content with capturing and killing protected birds, resorted to illegal traditional hunting methods. We will be there once again against these cruel practices and for all the animals who continue to be a target of them.

It was a macabre spectacle that the agents from the French Office of Biodiversity (OFB) discovered during their search of this poacher’s home in Tarn-et-Garonne. There they found that seven goldfinches were being kept prisoner to attract other birds with their song, while twenty-three individuals from other protected species were found lifeless in traps. Their capture is performed in the trapper’s garden, where the victims, who cannot resist the calls of one of their own, have had the misfortune to land, only to find themselves trapped in nets or stuck to perches covered in glue. The distress and agony that these tits and blackcaps have to endure before they take their last breath is unimaginable.

Faced with a resurgence in traditional hunting, we are keeping the pressure on

As well as having been killed while belonging to a protected species, these birds have been killed using methods that are themselves prohibited. Have we forgotten that glue hunting was ruled illegal by the State Council in 2021, following a decision made by none other than the European Court of Justice? And that the French institution once again proved us right a few months later by suspending and cancelling ministerial decrees relating to traditional hunting several times following this, after the government’s stubbornness in relation to persecuting birds?

Obviously caring as little about justice as they do about animals, those killing these little birds stubbornly go out of their way to continue to use these methods again. To the point where the government has given them the gift of ‘experimentation’, intended to show that the use of cages, nets, and decoys would be well and truly selective, which would justify these killings happening again in their eyes.

Zero tolerance for poachers

We will not let either the attempts to revive traditional hunting or the slightest complacency regarding poachers lie. In September 2022, we already succeeded in getting a man who had killed and sold thousands of robins sentenced with a six-month suspended prison sentence and a €25,000 fine. In February 2023, a repeat offender had to defend their actions in front of the courts.

As a civil party in the trial, we will once again give a voice to all of the birds that were killed and will ask for the highest possible penalty for this massacre at the Montauban legal tribunal on Thursday 26 October.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice