2023-05-11 17:27:24
The red deer in the Oostvaardersplassen have had a bloody time. Between September last year and May 1, no less than 1800 of them were shot. Staatsbosbeheer set up shelters for this purpose, behind fallen trees or small hills, so that hunters might hide. Without those hiding places, the hunt was much more difficult. “Then the red deer saw a car and thought ‘get out!’”, says spokesman Joke Bijl of Staatsbosbeheer.
From now on, disposal on a smaller scale
The organization says that the game stock can now be managed in a ‘regular’ manner. In that case, too, grading will be necessary, but on a smaller scale. There are now 500 red deer left. They are expected to have regarding 250 youngsters this year. Some of the red deer, especially males, will come out of the Bronze Age so weakened that they die of their own accord. The rest must be hunted next winter.
Between 100 and 200 animals are then shot, so that regarding 500 remain. Staatsbosbeheer strives for an equal number of male and female deer. Besides the red deer, there are also wild cattle and horses in the area, three hundred of each species.
The fact that Staatsbosbeheer is now seeking publicity is because it has finally succeeded in bringing wildlife under control. Staatsbosbeheer was almost there a few years ago, but then the organization had to stop shooting due to a lawsuit. That case arose from the many protests following the announcement in 2018 that she would reduce the number of red deer. Emotions sometimes ran high, but Staatsbosbeheer persevered, because the number of large grazers stood in the way of further development of the area.
“Birds are the ambassadors of the area”
There were so many grazers that the area was much too open, says Bijl. With the numbers that are now walking around, shrubs, young trees and flowers are given another chance. Crucial to stimulate biodiversity, soil life, insects. And of course the critters that it’s all regarding; “Birds are the ambassadors of the area,” says Bijl. Work will continue on the Oostvaardersplassen in the coming years. There will be fish passages and a ‘swamp reset’. There will also be more space for recreation.
One of the organizations that opposed the shooting of the red deer through the courts was the Stichting Dierbaar Flevoland. Board member Marius Bouscholte of that organization is not pleased with the massive shooting of red deer. “The area is being violated,” he says. It is precisely for the birds that an open plain is needed, he says. Moreover, he thinks shooting is not ethical.
Bijl hopes that the peace around the Oostvaardersplassen will now return. For game lovers, people who like to consume game, the large shooting operation last winter was pleasant. Staatsbosbeheer sold part of the meat through a website specialized in ‘natural meat’. The rest of the meat was left in the area as food for scavengers, insects and other game.
Read also:
A harsh winter does not kill boars, hunting does
Beeches and oaks produce little food for the wild boars this year, which means a tough winter will begin. Like every year, a large part of the boars will be shot. So there will be no question of mass starvation.
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