News Archive - Page 56 of 146

Animal testing: the State is giving the green light to experiments mutilating dolphins

Animal testing: the State is giving the green light to experiments mutilating dolphins
06.04.2023
Animal testing: the State is giving the green light to experiments mutilating dolphins
Animal testing

The Ministries of Higher Education and Research have just authorised 124 skin and flesh samples on dolphins living around Réunion Island. Far from being concerned about animals, the analysis of these brutally torn tissues seems to be for the purpose of making fishing easier… One Voice condemns this umpteenth act of violence committed on these animals.

The experiment that is being prepared in the waters of the Réunion with the blessing of the Ministry is unacceptable.

Groups of dolphins could soon be targeted, followed, and shot with a sampling arrow which will go into their dorsal fin to tear off a piece of flesh. You can easily imagine all of the risks in terms of the stress caused and the physical injuries with such an attack. Those who started this project do not seem to be overly concerned about it. They actually predict that “ the potential injuries will be managed as far as possible by the veterinarian and members of the organisation in charge of animal welfare”. How are they going to treat the dolphins that they are going to seriously terrify? By following them? By capturing them? The so-called testing experiment in itself is already shocking, but obviously it might not stop there. They will be left with their injuries and the risks that will inevitably follow.

Mutilating dolphins to kill fish more easily

The purpose of such treatment has nothing to do with any concern for the dolphin populations involved. This would not be justifiable to us even if that had been the case. But in this case, the project aims to obtain a “global vision on the food chain on this level of the marine ecosystem” to “inspire recommendations for conservation and sustainable management of these species on a local scale”. In other words, to make it easier to catch thousands of fish!

How many dolphins are involved?

Aside from our anger, the mention on the research project that only one dolphin would undergo these biopsies alerted us. Indeed, how can you conceive of taking 124 skin biopsies from five species of dolphins from one single animal? We have therefore written to the Ministry to express our indignation for this project and to obtain clarification on this figure. The error was ‘in the process of being corrected’. This was on 24 March. On 6 April, the erroneous information was still online… And we have not received any response to our request for this kind of project to no longer be accepted other than silence which says a lot about the State’s interest in animals. And as always, that which is morally reprehensible is not necessarily possible to contest legally. This is unfortunately what has come from our legal analysis of this project.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Public consultation: say no to scaring brown bears in the Pyrenees!

Public consultation: say no to scaring brown bears in the Pyrenees!
05.04.2023
Public consultation: say no to scaring brown bears in the Pyrenees!
Wildlife

Following the partial cancellation of one of its previous laws, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition is about to take on a new decree perpetuating the scaring of brown bears in the Pyrenees. Along with One Voice, take advantage of the public consultation open until 21 April to denounce this unjust decision!

In 2022, we won numerous victories for brown bears in the Pyrenees. In August, we were successful in urgently suspending no less than nine prefectural decrees that intended to chase them with flash-balls and sting-ball grenades. An outburst of unheard-of violence of which the only aim was to achieve social peace with farmers… Then we obtained the cancellation of article 4 of the ministerial decree of 31 May 2021. The law, which set guidelines on the implementation of these scaring measures, did not make any plans to protect pregnant bears or those accompanied by their young from the most brutal techniques, which we immediately condemned.

New law, same violence

Yet, knowing that its decree of 20 June 2022 allowing scaring measures was similar to the one that was partially cancelled, the Ministry has tried to cover its back with a new draft law. This one specifically makes it clear that only OFB agents are authorised to carry out increased scaring operations and states that sound effect shots can only be used against female bears accompanied by cubs when ‘depredation’ (which includes the notion of damage) appears to be certain.

Risk of injuries, the young being separated from their mothers…

New decree or not, the State’s objective remains the same: to satisfy farmers to the detriment of wild animals. Victims of this policy, bears are exposed to auditory injuries, while female bears, stressed and exhausted by the harassment that they are subjected to, risk not reaching full term in their pregnancy or being separated from their young. Do we need a reminder that with scarcely 70 individuals in the Pyrenees, the brown bear population is still extremely fragile and must be rigorously protected? In view of the persecution that these animals suffer, it is absolutely necessary…

The French National Council for the Protection of Nature [Conseil national de la protection de la nature (CNPN)] was consulted and has already given an unfavourable view on the ministerial decree project.

We remain resolutely against scaring measures which terrorise the bears into their territory. From 31 March to 21 April inclusive, a public consultation is open. Rally with us and show your support for bears (make sure to follow the requested procedure, otherwise views are not taken into account). Thank you!

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Montbéliard stray cats: One Voice is asking the town council to take responsibility.

Montbéliard stray cats: One Voice is asking the town council to take responsibility.
04.04.2023
Montbéliard stray cats: One Voice is asking the town council to take responsibility.
Domestic animals

Once again, One Voice has been warned by supporters about the fact that a town council is refusing to implement neutering campaigns for stray cats. Today, it is the Montbéliard mayor who is threatening to take away shelters for stray cats on the basis that it should stop proliferation.

Even though the Montbéliard Town Council had had shelters installed for stray cats a few years ago, they have just realised that this did not prevent cats from continuing to reproduce! In response, they threatened to take away the shelters, instead of proceeding with a neutering campaign. A petition for the attention of the town council was also launched by the inhabitants and those protecting cats in the neighbourhood.

One Voice therefore wrote to the Montbéliard mayor today to inform her of her misunderstanding and to remind her that the legislation in place requires mayors to get stray cats neutered before using a pound service.

The essential rallying and the letter we wrote to the Songeons Town Council have finally paid off given that the Mayor has realised his error and repealed his decree. We hope that the Mayor of Montbéliard does the same.

Sign our petition for the implementation of a national plan to put an end to feline straying.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Captive circus animals: ministry subterfuges

Captive circus animals: ministry subterfuges
31.03.2023
France
Captive circus animals: ministry subterfuges
Exploitation for shows

Under the framework of the law against animal mistreatment, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition committed to redefining the French National Advisory Committee for Captive Wildlife [Commission nationale consultative pour la faune sauvage captive (CNCFS)] regulations. The Committee, which has the power to issue competency certificates to trainers, ultimately will not have more representatives from animal rights associations. We condemn this decision.

Another missed opportunity!

On 10 November 2022, one year after the enactment of the law on animal mistreatment, the Ministry for the Ecological Transition finally presented its draft implementing decrees to animal rights associations. The problem: the new CNCFS regulations only provide one very minor place for associations compared with circus artists. Having been invited to give our view on this subject, we hoped to be heard. But the Ministry has turned a deaf ear. Decrees relating to the organisation of this committee have just been published, still leaving very little space for animal advocates. Worse, the number of representatives from zoos and circuses has tripled. This is a true refusal to advance the protection of animals kept in circuses!

A hypocritical Ministry

This Ministry, which guarantees associations will always be the minority against the captivity industry, is the same one that committed to put an end to exploiting wild animals for circuses by the end of 2028. Incidentally forgetting to specify to the general public that these measures do not apply to travelling circuses…

It also recently welcomed a new call for projects to create places in shelters for the animals that would survive the closure of their circuses. Behind the image that the Ministry for the Ecological Transition wants to portray, the reality is grim. It continues to trample on that which should be there to protect.

From 2021, an interministerial note guaranteed the protection of trainers to the detriment of their lions, tigers, elephants, and hippopotamuses, even before discussing the law, and we have again had examples of this in Cannes, Nice, and Menton in recent weeks: for another six years, the State intends to defend tooth and nail the activities of circuses who mistreat and exploit, failing to defend wild animals that are endangered. Very far from other European countries who have legislated clearly in their favour.

Nothing, neither circus artists nor the hypocrisy of the Ministry, will stop us in our fight. These animals have no place in a lorry!

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

There will be no badger digging in Nièvre this spring!

There will be no badger digging in Nièvre this spring!
30.03.2023
Nièvre
There will be no badger digging in Nièvre this spring!
Wildlife

Referred to by One Voice, ASPAS, and AVES, the Dijon Administrative Tribunal has just cancelled the prefectural decree authorising badger digging in Nièvre from 15 May 2023. This victory allows badgers’ lives to be saved given that it intervenes even before it will start being applied!

Each year, department prefects can authorise the opening of an “additional period for underground hunting of badgers with hounds” by special dispensation from 15 May. A dispensation which has no other purpose than to satisfy the demands of diggers.

That is what the Nièvre Prefect did by authorising two additional periods in spring 2022 and spring 2023 with the decree of 27 May 2022. Faced with the illegality shown by this decree, we had, as had all our partners, referred to the Dijon Administrative Tribunal to demand its cancellation.

A quick victory without appeal

At the hearing on 23 March, we had badgers’ voices heard. And this was a victory without appeal: the Prefect’s decree was illegal, since it had been adopted following an unlawful procedure.

In fact, the law states that decrees of this kind must be preceded by a public consultation. Within this framework, the State services must write a presentation note indicating the context and the objectives of the decree. But the Nièvre Prefect did not bother with these formalities: the note written by his services included five paragraphs, each several lines long, and quite simply did not mention badger digging. A mistake that deprived the public of any guarantee and completely justifies the cancellation of the decree.

The procedure was enough to tip the scales

If this reasoning was enough to obtain a cancellation of the decree being challenged, we will continue to put forward substantive arguments that have already been validated by several administrative tribunals. In fact, the opening of an additional period of underground hunting with hounds in the spring inevitably leads to the death of badger cubs, in total violation of the Environmental Code, as well as endangering animals from a protected species who also live in these burrows.

Nièvre badgers will therefore have a few months of respite this spring. In all other departments, One Voice will bring their voices before tribunals until this type of cruel hunting is definitively abolished.

Join us on the weekend of 13 and 14 May on the ground throughout France for World Day for Badgers! And before then, sign our petition.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

One Voice is asking for a decree from the Songeons town council to ban feeding stray cats to be repealed

One Voice is asking for a decree from the Songeons town council to ban feeding stray cats to be repealed
28.03.2023
Oise
One Voice is asking for a decree from the Songeons town council to ban feeding stray cats to be repealed
Domestic animals

One Voice has been warned by various animal advocates of the fact that the Songeons Town Council has decided to ban feeding stray cats in its area. We have written to the Songeons mayor to express our indignation and to remind him of his responsibilities when it comes to stray animals in his town’s area.In fact, the municipal decree n° 2023_A016 of 15 March 2023 threatened anyone who risked it with a fine of 38 euros. Posts on the town’s website and Facebook page have since been taken down.

A ban on feeding stray cats or be subject to a fine: this is how the Songeons town council manages straying situations in their area, instead of taking responsibility by restarting neutering campaigns. As reported by the media, the town council justifies this ban with “a fresh outbreak of rambling cats” and the “need and desire to keep the town in a good state of cleanliness and hygiene”.

As a reminder, mayors are responsible for animals roaming in their town’s area. Regarding cats, before even thinking about capturing them to put them into pounds, legislation requires neutering campaigns before they are released (annexe II, section 2, chapter V of the decree of 3 April 2014 setting health and animal protection guidelines). This is the only ethical way to sustainably manage a population of stray cats. Banning feeding them will in no way stem their reproduction and even risks creating problems that were not present before the ban: famished, the cats will turn to bins and small wildlife.

With posts on the town’s website and Facebook page having been taken down by 28 March, we therefore asked the mayor to confirm that these deletions constitute a repeal of the decree and not a deceptive attempt to conceal the truth while the decree is still in force.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

After suspension comes cancellation: when the legal system says stop persecuting the 1700 foxes in Oise

After suspension comes cancellation: when the legal system says stop persecuting the 1700 foxes in Oise
27.03.2023
Oise
After suspension comes cancellation: when the legal system says stop persecuting the 1700 foxes in Oise
Wildlife

On 23 March, following our plea, the Amiens Administrative Tribunal cancelled the Oise Prefectural decree authorising the slaughter of 1700 foxes in the department. The law, which we had urgently suspended, was ruled as being illegal.

This is a second victory for the foxes that we are defending. Suspended after our first plea, the decree set by the Oise Prefect on 13 September 2021 has just been cancelled by the legal system.

Since its publication, we have reported on the untruthful arguments of this illegal law, as have AVES France and ASPAS, and the legal system has proven us all right. The decision from the Amiens Administrative Tribunal is enlightening: not only has the Prefecture failed to follow the conditions set out by the Environmental Code to justify its decree, but they were also unable to provide evidence of the multiple evils that they have accused foxes of.

We would very much like prefectures to stop being a place for hunters to register their desires and activities. We are delighted with this decision and we will continue to attack decrees targeting foxes. Sign our petition!

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Neutering cats is becoming obligatory in Spain. When will this happen in France?

Neutering cats is becoming obligatory in Spain. When will this happen in France?
24.03.2023
Spain
Neutering cats is becoming obligatory in Spain. When will this happen in France?
Domestic animals

On 16 March 2023, the Spanish Parliament passed a new law reinforcing the welfare and protection of animals. Important advances will come into effect in September, in particular including the neutering of cats, whether stray or living with a family. In France, such an obligation could have seen the light of day when the 30 November 2021 law came in, but it was eventually dismissed due to political pressure.

Alongside this law, which also banned the sale of cats, dogs, and ferrets in pet shops, the exploitation of wild animals in circuses, and even the use of lethal methods to combat pigeons and rats, a reform of the Penal Code increased the penalties incurred in cases of mistreatment.

A necessity to put an end to the ordeal that felines endure

The Spanish law contains a provision making it obligatory to have cats surgically neutered before six months of age, with the exception of ‘breeders’ listed on the register of companion animal breeders. Stray cats are also included: they will be captured to be neutered and then released.

Any breach of this obligation will constitute a violation punishable by a fine of between €500 and €10,000.

Millions of cats suffer

There are 11 million stray cats and 15.1 million living with a family in France, but we still refuse to impose neutering, even while they are reproducing at an astounding rate. From the age of six months, females can have two litters per year, with an average of 2.8 kittens each time, of which half are female who themselves are capable of reproducing at the same rate… This means that after only seven years and with a kitten mortality rate of 15%, the descendants of a single mother and her daughters is theoretically more than 10,000 individuals.

Neutering is done for protection in order to decrease abandonments in rescue centres and euthanasias in pounds, all while avoiding contributing to feline overpopulation and its share of suffering: diseases, hunger, injuries, human mistreatment…

A missed opportunity in France

The opportunity to impose neutering in France nevertheless presented itself at the time of the debates around the 30 November 2021 law “aiming to fight against mistreatment of animals and strengthen the link between animals and humans”. While the initial project unfortunately did not concern individuals, it at least planned to generalise the neutering of stray cats by requiring mayors to capture and then microchip them before releasing them. This proposition was eventually rejected. Towns therefore only have the possibility and not an obligation to operate on stray cats, and in fact, associations often carry this responsibility alone with limited means.

However, we must not forget that as long as individuals leave their cats to breed before giving the kittens away to the first person that wants them, they will continue to feed overpopulation, straying, and feline suffering.

Help us to move forward with this fight: share our report with your local council and sign our petition demanding an urgent national plan to put an end to feline straying and the suffering that it causes.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

Victory for sharks in La Réunion: the prefecture is putting a stop to them being fished in a protected zone

Victory for sharks in La Réunion: the prefecture is putting a stop to them being fished in a protected zone
24.03.2023
La Réunion
Victory for sharks in La Réunion: the prefecture is putting a stop to them being fished in a protected zone
Wildlife

Following yet another suspension being given by the courts, referred by One Voice and its partners, the La Réunion Prefecture has repealed its decree authorising shark fishing in one of the most protected zones of the island’s marine reserve on 14 March 2023. This is good news for sharks and for the already vulnerable ecosystem in which they are developing.

Killings even in a protected area

This is not the first time that we have gone up against the La Réunion Prefecture for this case. Since 2016, the justice system has proven us right by cancelling a similar decree. In February 2019, the same again: the Prefecture published a new law, in turn cancelled four years later. Even more recently, we attacked the decree of July 2021. And already, the Prefecture has chosen to repeal it before the date of our appeal hearing.

The State knows it is wrong. Its policy is untenable. Since 2013, it has killed hundreds of tiger bulldog sharks in the Reunion Island waters in the name of the so-called fight against attacks on humans, without ever succeeding in significantly reducing the number of fatal accidents. Worse: we have been pointing fingers for years for its illegal fishing practices, for the Centre Sécurité Requin de la Réunion (CSR) [Reunion Island Shark Safety Centre] funded by it and for threatening sharks as well as the already fragile coral ecosystems.

Faced with repeated attacks by the State, and this even in the most protected areas, we will not leave sharks to be massacred.

Translated from the French by Joely Justice

One Voice goes again in the fight against badger digging in Nièvre

One Voice goes again in the fight against badger digging in Nièvre
23.03.2023
Nièvre
One Voice goes again in the fight against badger digging in Nièvre
Wildlife

Every year, prefects authorise badger digging by special dispensation from 15 May, even while the badger cubs are still in the setts. After having had much success in 2022, One Voice is pursuing its fight against this hunting method of unspeakable violence. The first step of this tour around France is on 23 March at 2:30pm at the Dijon Administrative Tribunal.

Underground hunting with hounds, or pure cruelty

A Sunday in the month of May. A female badger and her cubs sleep at the bottom of their sett. They are woken by barks down the tunnels. The mother escapes, trying to somehow save her cubs. But she very quickly finds herself cornered. Then she is blinded: knowing she is stuck, a hunter digs a hole above her. With a pair of metal pliers, he grabs her by the throat and drags her from her sett. She will never see her babies again, who will die from panic, thirst, or hunger in the days to follow. That is it for her: the hunter pulls out a knife and slits her throat or shoots her at point-blank range.

No matter what hunters say, this is the cruel reality of underground hunting with hounds, which is responsible for more than 12,000 badger victims every year. Authorised from September to 15 January, this practice may be subject to an ‘additional period’ from 15 May to the month of September. Yet another way for prefects to give gifts to hunters in defiance of the law.

A massacre announced for badger cubs, making a mockery of the law

In terms of form, the decrees opening an additional period of underground badger hunting with hounds must be subject to a public consultation and be accompanied by a request note, in particular describing the impact of digging on the population of these animals in the department concerned. Despite this obligation, the latest one, provided by the Nièvre Prefect, only has a few lines and simply just does not mention this type of hunting.

In essence, while killing the young is strictly forbidden by law, specialists are in agreement: in the spring and summer, non-weaned, reproductively immature animals that are still dependent on their mothers are present in the setts. Yet, digging, by definition, does not allow them to be spared: if by some miracle they are not killed during the operation, they end up dying by not being able to survive alone.

These shameless snubs of the law have gone on for long enough. While we had much success in 2022, a definitive victory for badgers seems to be possible more than ever in the near future. We will be at the Dijon Administrative Tribunal on 23 March 2023 at 2:30pm to get their voices heard. We need your support. For them, sign our petition!

Translated from the French by Joely Justice