Referendums for a federal hunting law and numerous associations are calling for the withdrawal of the Bird Shooting Ordinance 2024/25 presented by FPÖ State Councilor Marlene Svazek
Vienna (OTS) – During the short, one-week review period of the regulation for the large-scale killing of 1,185 jays, 560 magpies, 97 gray herons, 114 cormorants and 3,625 carrion crows per year, Animal Protection Austria, BirdLife, Nature Conservation Association and the Salzburg State Environmental Prosecutor’s Office damning statements were made. In the further course, the hands of the conservationists will be tied, because with the regulation instead of notifications, the illegal killing of birds would be removed from the jurisdiction of the courts and the Aarhus Convention, which is also binding for Austria, would be circumvented.
Today, one day after Species Protection Day, 16 animal rights activists have protested against the violation of this principle of the rule of law, the lack of consideration of the ban on killing, the inventory survey and controls by those interested in shooting, the generalization and inadequacy of the examination of alternatives as well as the very questionable method of damage calculations: inside the ASSOCIATION AGAINST ANIMAL FACTORIES, from Respect animalsthe ARGE city pigeons as well as the Green Party’s nature conservation spokesperson in the state parliament, Kimbie Humer-Vogl, together with the Referendum for a federal hunting law protested in front of the office building of Salzburg’s Deputy Governor Marlene Svazek, who is responsible for the nature and environmental protection departments.
Particular attention is drawn to the already unfavorable conservation status of the 300 gray herons living in Salzburg, the classification as endangered in the Red List and the extinction of many former gray heron colonies(1). The population figures on which the maximum kills are based are based on mapping from 2005! Shooting 97 gray herons per year would massively worsen the conservation status of the species, which was already extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. In the case of the cormorant, the closed season regulation is already unconstitutional. The nesting season, the individual phases of the breeding and rearing period and, in the case of migratory birds, the retreat to the nesting sites must fall into the closed season. However, the latter does not begin for cormorants until May 1st. As early as 2004, the EU Commission initiated infringement proceedings against gray heron and cormorant hunting in Salzburg due to incorrect implementation of the Birds Directive (2).
Jays and magpies are also protected under EU law and cannot be hunted in Austria. Exceptions to the ban on killing are only possible under certain conditions, which do not apply to these species. Nevertheless, the Bird Shooting Plan Ordinance is intended to allow the killing of 1,185 jays (so-called “gardeners of the forest”) and 560 magpies per year. No even remotely valid justification is provided for this (3). Finally, effective alternatives to combat damage caused by carrion crows were rejected without justification, such as the immediate introduction of silo bales. However, without examining alternatives, shooting of protected species is not permitted.
GDR. Martin Balluch, proponent of the referendum for a federal hunting law, said: “The populist behavior of politics and the severity with which attempts are made to deprive protected animals of their right to exist are frightening.
At the same time, biological connections are misunderstood. In times of climate crisis and species extinction, biotope improvements and an understanding of all living things are needed. This case shows more than ever how much we need a federal hunting law that takes ecology and animal welfare into account and does not violate the rule of law.
“
Press photos (Copyright: VGT.at)
Sources:
(1) Statement from the Salzburg State Environmental Prosecutor’s Office(01.03.24)
(2) Salzburg State Environmental Prosecutor’s Office: The (un)stoppable decline of the gray heron in Salzburg: Will the native breeding bird be extinct again? (01.03.24)
(3) Statement on Animal Protection Austria (01.03.24)
Questions & Contact:
VGT – ASSOCIATION AGAINST ANIMAL FACTORIES
DDr. Martin Balluch
Campaign management
01 929 14 98
media@vgt.at
https://vgt.at