Subject: Order the authorization for the destruction of wolves
Your Honour the Mayor,
The CAP Wolf collective brings together 37 associations for the protection of nature and animals, who are gathered to act in favour of the protection of the wolf, to ensure the presence of the species in France and to allow the cohabitation between the wolf and human activity.
We have read your order of 22 September 2016, authorizing for a period of 6 months in the territory of Prévenchères:
- “at the same time shooting to defence, enhanced defence, levy’s and enhanced levying”,
- the breeders to take «all necessary measures against wolves and if necessary, to carry out the killing of wolves»,
- the breeders «to carry out any trapping of the species wolf».
As you know, the wolf is a species strictly protected, both by European and international law, and by French law. Any deviation from this status must comply with the legislative and regulatory provisions, more specifically those resulting from the Ministerial Order of 30 June 2015.
Your decision is therefore tainted by multiple illegalities, both in terms of jurisdiction and compliance with the conditions for authorising shooting and authorized means of destruction. Voluntary adoption of a grossly illegal order by a local elected official, depositary of public authority, is unacceptable in a rule of law.
We hereby wish to remind you and your fellow citizens that if a wolf is shot, the shooter – or the trapper – would be liable, pursuant to article L.415-3 of the Environmental Code, 2 years imprisonment and a fine of €150,000. This penalty would be increased to 7 years imprisonment and 750,000 € fine if this offence were committed in an organized gang (L.415-6 of the same code).
You yourself, having directly provoked the perpetrator to commit this offence, would be considered, pursuant to Article 23 of the Law of 29 July 1881, as an accomplice of the crime and liable to the same penalties.
Our associations would also ask civil reparation for the damage suffered by this illegal destruction, damage directly related to the wrongful illegality of this decree, illegality constituting a fault involving the responsibility of the municipality.
Consequently, we ask you to repeal without delay this decree stained with multiple illegalities, and to put an end urgently to the destruction operations currently underway in your municipality.
Finally, we remind you that herd protection measures are funded by the community, which also compensates all losses attributed to wolves, whether the herd is protected or not. It is up to the breeders to subscribe to these subsidies, the implementation of these measures being the only way to a peaceful cohabitation of the farmers with this natural predator.
Please accept, Your Worship, the expression of our most distinguished consideration.
On 26/09/2016
The associations of CAP Loup
- Registered letter with AR and fax
- Posting on the website www.cap-loup.fr
- Mailing to local and national media
Contacts:
Madline Reynaud - ASPAS
Patrick Boffy - fan
Muriel Arnal - One Voice
Mail:
CAP Loup – C/o PHAAS – PO 505 – 26401 CREST Cedex
The 37 member associations of CAP Loup:
Founders: Animal Cross, ASPAS, Ferus, LPO PACA, Mille traces, SFEPM, WWF.
Members: ALEPE, Altaïr Nature, ANG, Asbl Wolf Eyes, ASPA Vosges, AVES France, CESB, le
CHANT, COGard, CVN, Eco Volontaire International, FAN, Fondation Brigitte Bardot, GEML, GLS, GMA, GREEN, Kermit, LAEO France, Loup.org, LPO Auvergne, LPO Champagne-Ardenne, Oiseaux Nature, One Voice, Peuple Loup, RAC, Sauvegarde Faune Sauvage, SPA Lyon Sud-Est, Sur les traces du loup, Tendua
