On 21 September, the Senate noted the success of the ‘for a ban on badger digging’ petition filed by ASPAS last March and signed by 104,745 citizens. The ball is now in the Commission of Economic Affair’s court, which is in charge of putting the action together and designating a public reporter in the coming months.
This is only the fourth petition to reach the target of 100,000 signatures in less than six months, and the second to demand a radical change to the ways and practices in hunting in France: proof that it is a very strong attempt by the French people, to whom our political representatives must respond. At a time when animal rights concern more and more citizens, our associations welcome a response being given regarding the ban on underground hunting with hounds, a brutal hunting practice that is a source of great suffering for badgers, but also foxes, another of the animals affected by this bloody hobby that is still legal in France.
We regret that the Senate did not choose to study the issue of digging out in a plenary session, which would have allowed a quicker result on a parliamentary law. However, the implementation of a mission at the centre of the Commission of Economic Affairs will at least allow our associations to show how the practice of digging out should be given up, as they already have in the majority of our neighbouring countries.
However, our associations wish to affirm our very great vigilance when it comes to arranging the future mission, its scientific reliability, and its impartiality. We have not forgotten to condemn loud and clear any attempt of democratic stifling by the intrusion of the hunting lobby. It would be inconceivable that the designated reporter has any connection with the subject criticised by the petition, as was the case for the securing mission for hunting, and for which certain conclusions in the report scandalously went in favour of the weapon and hunting lobbies.
Without waiting for the implementation of the parliamentary mission, our associations are today pursuing the fight against digging out before the tribunals, on the ground, in the media, and wherever we can, so that as many French people as possible are alerted to the existence and legality of this unjustifiable practice from a scientific, economic, and ethical point of view.
Release co-signed by ADH, Animal Cross, APRAD, ASPAS, AVES, Collectif Renard Blaireau, Education Ethique Animale, Fondation Brigitte Bardot, Mille Traces, One Voice, Un Jour Un Chasseur, as well as Catherine Le Troquier, the Valaire Councillor.
Translated from the French by Joely Justice
