2023-05-21 06:10:27
Referendum “For a federal hunting law” calls for an end to hunting of endangered species and conflicting laws
Vienna (OTS) – The world is in a severe biodiversity crisis. The UNESCO International Day of Biodiversity on May 22 draws attention to this. In this crisis, all available means must be used to stop the extinction of species. As part of a referendum, there is also a demand for the hunting laws in Austria to be made uniform throughout the country.
In fact, some state hunting laws still allow endangered species to be shot. For example, the globally endangered turtle dove can be legally killed in Lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland. “The turtle dove has lost more than two thirds of its population in Austria in the last 20 years! Shooting them “just for fun” is completely unacceptable and must be banned nationwide,” emphasizes DDr. Martin Balluch, chairman of the association once morest animal factories.
Other examples are the pochard (only protected from hunting in two federal states) and the teal, of which there are not even 100 breeding pairs left in Austria. “Unfortunately, nobody knows how many turtledoves, pochards and teals are shot in Austria each year, because several federal states only record a total value for pigeons and ducks, in which common and endangered species are thrown together,” says Dr. Madeleine Petrovic, President of Tierschutz Austria.
“The example of the turtle dove shows the whole absurdity of the fragmentation of hunting rights in Austria and the major shortcomings in various state laws. We finally need a federal hunting law that prohibits the hunting of endangered species throughout Austria,” says Prof. Rudolf Winkelmayer, representative of the referendum for a federal hunting law.
Lead shot as a species killer
Every year the environment in Austria is poisoned by tons of lead from ammunition. “Lead is a powerful poison and birds are particularly affected. Lead poisoning is one of the most important causes of loss for all three large eagle species in Austria. If they ingest lead from wounded animals or carrion, dissolving a few milligrams of this heavy metal in the stomach will cause lead poisoning. The birds die miserably within a few days,” explains DI Franz Puchegger, chairman of the Austrian ecological hunting association, the demand for a ban on lead shot.
Since 1986 attempts have been made to bring the bearded vulture back to its original habitat in a cooperation between all Alpine countries. The bearded vulture project is one of the most successful attempts to reintroduce a species that has died out in the wild. “Only in Austria has the development been very hesitant for almost 25 years. Ammunition containing lead proved to be one of the main reasons and repeatedly led to the loss of breeding birds. Good contacts with hunters in areas frequented by bearded vultures ultimately led to a voluntary renunciation of the dangerous ammunition there. Even the hunters of the federal forests only shoot unleaded. The end of lead-containing hunting ammunition is inevitable and overdue,” emphasizes Hans Frey, bird of prey expert in the Wildlife Working Group in the Science and Environment Forum.
According to a directive of the Bonn Convention, lead ammunition should be replaced by non-toxic alternatives in all habitats by 2017. In Austria, in 2014 the environment ministers and regional councilors committed to phasing out the use of lead ammunition. But no steps followed. The EU recently banned the use of lead ammunition only in wet areas.
Questions & contact:
Referendum for a federal hunting law
MMag. dr Madeleine Petrovic (President)
+4369912763009
communication@tierschutz-austria.at
www.tierschutz-austria.at
1684650613
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