Category: Hunting

“Poaching with state cover”: Austrian prince kills bear in Romania!

Statement by Martin Balluch (VGT, Austria)

Arthur was a big bear. It is said to be the largest in Romania and maybe even in the EU.
He was 17 years old for a bear in the wild. And very healthy!

How do we know? Because Arthur has been watched and looked after for years. Namely by the nature conservation organization Agent Green, which is also campaigning against the illegal logging of the last primeval forests in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania.

Arthur lived in the Natura 2000 reserve Oituz-Ojdula northeast of Brasov, formerly Kronstadt, away from human habitation.
A bear of his size has a fixed territory, so you know where to meet him. But Arthur’s whereabouts were not only known to Agent Green.
Another organization was targeting Arthur as well. Only was not a bear-friendly one, it was a hunting trip organizer.
They wanted a big bonus from a rich Western European snob for its kill.

Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein

The plan should have been something like this:

First, a farmer complains about a bear that is causing agricultural damage to him.
In fact, the mayor of Ojdula, which is on the edge of the Carpathian forests, says that in the summer of 2020 there were some complaints about a little she-bear with cubs.
Nothing exciting, and no compensation was ever paid. At the end of January 2021, a farmer from Ojdula demanded that this she-bear be shot because she was disturbing.
To do this, he writes a handwritten letter to the responsible ministry:

Agent Green visited this farmer. When his letter was presented to him, he said that he has written it.
In the further conversation it turned out, however, that he cannot read at all.
Was it just used as an excuse to get permission to shoot?
In fact, the ministry will issue one in mid-February 2021:

Emanuel Liechtenstein, who calls himself “Prince” and comes from the royal family of the Principality of Liechtenstein, but in  Austria lives in the Riegers Castle, receives this permit.
He is allowed to kill this “problem bear”, who even leads children, between March 12th and 16th, 2021.

The time has come on March 13th. Emanuel Liechtenstein shot a bear. Only it was Arthur:

Corpse of Bear Arthur

Continue reading ““Poaching with state cover”: Austrian prince kills bear in Romania!”

England: Hunter’s band seriously injured hunt saboteur

A member of Manchester Hunt Saboteurs was nearly killed by badger baiters in the Little Lever area of Bolton last night.
The sab was checking on badgers when he disturbed a gang of five thugs digging out a known badger sett.
He was then set upon, viciously beaten, and left for dead.

It is believed that spades and other digging implements were used in the attack. When he came to, he was thankfully able to make his way back to the road and call friendly locals who rushed to his aid.

The sab is in good spirits but has sustained very serious injuries that will require plastic surgery and dozens of stitches to the head.

Badger baiting – which has been illegal since 1835 – involves badgers being torn apart by multiple dogs.

Typically, terriers are sent into a sett to attack the badger underground, while the baiters use spades and crowbars to dig down to the fighting animals. Once the badger is exposed, it is pulled out and set upon by larger dogs.
The badger suffers an agonising fight to the death and the dogs, too, frequently sustain terrible injuries.

Manchester Hunt Sabs commented:

“To say we are angry would be an understatement, but we are incredibly proud of the bravery shown by our sab last night. Thanks to him the baiters abandoned their plans and fled the area. This sett will be watched closely from now on.”

HSA Press Officer Lee Moon added:

“As hunt sabs we get used to violence from animal abusers but the savagery of this attack has shocked us. These baiters clearly intended to kill this brave man and he’s extremely lucky to survive. He has our admiration for his bravery and we’re frankly in awe that he was willing to put himself in such a dangerous position to protect these badgers.

Fox hunters, hare coursers and badger baiters are all cut from the same cloth. They’re people who daily commit acts of violence against wildlife and are equally happy to use violence against those who try and stop them.

https://www.huntsabs.org.uk/hunt-saboteur-left-for-dead-by-badger-baiters/

And I mean…The gangs are mostly working-class guys in their twenties. They use social media like Snapchat to organise digs and share pictures.

These people are very brutaly and guarded.
They don’t care if the animals they kill suffer; they’re just killing them for sport and fun.

What they are doing is just horrific.
To these people, killing animals is a sport – the more brutal, the better.

Generally badger baiters don’t take their dogs to vets with their injuries because that would be recorded and reported; so they stitch up their wounds themselves.
They are valuable dogs for hunting and breeding so they’re a commodity to them and they’ll protect the commodity but they don’t have any concern about the feelings of the animal.

And they’re quite happy to dispose of them once they’re no longer a useful commodity.

Those who are not afraid to brutally massacre animals also lose the feeling of humanity.
Hunting leads to bestiality and dehumanization

My best regards to all, Venus

Burkina Faso: Animal rights activists murdered

Report by Martin Bussmann- MEP

Irish animal rights activist Rory Young was murdered last week in Burkina Faso.

Irish citizen killed in Burkina Faso was working in anti-poaching operations

Rory was leading a wildlife protection patrol in Arly National Park, Burkina Faso on 26th April 2021 when they were attacked by terrorists which resulted in his death and that of two Spanish journalists, the 44-year-old David Beriáin, a reporter, and 47-year-old Roberto Fraile, a photographer, who were capturing his efforts to protect precious wildlife.

He was there with the two journalists, to make a documentary about the protection of the national parks.

5-2021 — Hot Topics: Sustainable Fashion, Elephants, Climate

Poaching is a big problem in this country.
The convoy was ambushed, Rory Young kidnapped and then executed.
The perpetrators belong to a local terrorist group that makes a lot of money from poaching

Botswana: Gewilderter Afrikanischer Elefant

Again and again you read about the death of people who stand up for the climate, the environment, nature and animals.
Hundreds are killed every year, and more are killed every year.

In 2019, 212 official activists were killed, compared to at least 331 in 2020.
In 2018 there were 164 people who had to pay with their lives for their work.
So the murders have doubled in just two years. The increasing violence comes from those who make good money from destroying our planet.

Some murders are downright commissioned by corporations or even governments, which of course don’t want to get their hands dirty.

In Germany, too, the tone is getting rougher and the repression of progressive forces is increasing. Anyone who stands up for nature and animals in this country is constantly being attacked by the lobby organizations from industry and agriculture.

Animal rights activists who uncover crimes and thus prevent a lot of suffering are sometimes criminalized.
It is said that the activists are militant.
Those who themselves continuously use violence when it comes to animals accuse people who give animals a voice of being violent.

What nonsense! those who are actually prepared to use violence are on the other side.
Fortunately, there has not yet been a murder in Germany. Because when it comes to willingness to use violence, the international death statistics speak a clear language.
Let’s be on guard.

https://www.facebook.com/Tierschutzabgeordneter/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/27/spanish-journalists-irish-citizen-killed-by-jihadists-burkina-faso

And I mean…“No one has claimed responsibility for the attack on a road leading to the vast forested reserve of Pama. The government said it had not identified the assailants, whom it described as “terrorists”, it says in the IrishCentral newspaper

Some media suspect that the al-Qaeda organization is behind it, but what benefit would such an organization get from the kidnapping and murder of an animal rights activist and two journalists, who do a documentary about wildlife?

Of course, one could suspect that extremist groups are partially financed by kidnapping foreign nationals.
But in this case there was no ransom
There was kidnapping and murder.
And so acts only the mafia.
Or highly paid poachers who acted under the order to destroy the documentation.

By the way: Terrorists also include members of the government of a country who work closely with the poaching mafia out of private interests.
A common business model in Africa.

On the Chengeta Wildlife website, Young was described as...”Rory is an expert tracker with amazing knowledge, skills, and highly developed intuition to become one of the best in his field. He has dedicated his life to wildlife protection and he co-authored, “A Field Manual For Anti-Poaching Activities”, a guide that provides workable solutions to poaching”.

We are infinitely sad and angry about the death of the three men and especially of Rory.

My best regards to all, Venus

USA: Petition – Cancel Lottery for Hunters to Slaughter Grand Canyon Bison.

 

Cancel Lottery for Hunters to Slaughter Grand Canyon Bison

 

 

Petition Link – Cancel Lottery for Hunters to Slaughter Grand Canyon Bison – ForceChange

 

Target: Shawn Benge, US National Parks Service Deputy Director

Goal: Stop lottery to hunt Grand Canyon bison.

The National Parks Service (NPS) recently held a lottery that allowed anyone to enter for the chance to hunt bison in the Grand Canyon. More than 45,000 people entered the lottery, which is part of an initiative to limit the population of bison, whose growing numbers are negatively impacting resources in the Grand Canyon area. The NPS will ultimately only select twelve skilled shooters.

While the NPS has defended their decision for the cull, stating that a fast growing bison population has been ravaging water, vegetation, soils, and archaeological sites within the national park, the excitement around the opportunity to hunt this majestic animal is concerning. Hunting at national parks is forbidden, but the NPS does have the jurisdiction to allow park staff or volunteers to kill animals that are damaging the natural spaces. This normalization and “viral” attention that the search for bison-hunting volunteers has drawn could potentially lead to unauthorized hunting or attack on wild animals.

Sign this petition to urge the NPS to stop the public lottery to hunt Grand Canyon bison.

PETITION LETTER:

To Mr. Benge,

The publication of the culling of bison in the Grand Canyon and the ability for anyone to simply enter a lottery to hunt these animals sends the wrong message to the public. The NPS should be focused on conservation and respect for nature. This lottery has, instead, created “viral” excitement around the possibility of shooting a majestic animal that is native to the United States. The fact that 45,000 people registered for a lottery reveals a strange and gruesome desire of many individuals to kill wild animals.

I urge you to stop the lottery to hunt Grand Canyon bison and leave conservation efforts of all kinds to NPS staff.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Kewing

 

 

 

UK: 11/5/21 – The State Opening Of Parliament – Good News For The Environment and Animals.

It can be a little confusing to non Brits, but the United Kingdom is literally what it says, ‘United Kingdoms’; formed by the (kingdom) nations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each has its own government; Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_United_Kingdom

United Kingdon.

WAV Comment – there is a lot of talk going around that the UK Ministry Defra will aim to get legislation for a ban on live animal exports intorduced by the end of this year.  They are currently going through all the submissions submitted to them; including a large proposal by ourselves.  The UK government promised that once the UK had left the EU, it would be able to introduce legislation to ban all live animal exports, which it was unable to do as an EU member state.  The consultation (now being reviewed by government) is part of that objective; and we are hopeful for good news in the coming months.

England: Full Info on the UK Ban Live Exports Consultation. Finishes End of Jan 2021. – World Animals Voice

Scotland: Live Animal Exports – Scottish Government Joins England and Wales In Undertaking Consultation For Possible Ban. All Relevant Links and Advice Below. – World Animals Voice

The State Opening Of Parliament – Good news for the environment and animals.

The StateOpening of Parliament is an event which formally marks the beginning of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It includes a speech from the throne known as the Queen’s Speech (or the King’s Speech if the UK has a male monrch).

It takes place in the House of Lords chamber on the first day of a new session, which is usually in May or June, and traditionally in November, but can occur at any time of year depending on the timing of General Elections and parliamentary session start dates.

It takes place in front of both Houses of Parliament. The monarch, wearing the Imperial State Crown, reads a speech that has been prepared by his or her government outlining its plans for that parliamentary year.

Basically, it outlines the major legislation that the government intends to introduce into UK law in the coming Parliamentary session.

This next session is going to see some positive legislation for both animals and the environment being passed into law, including:

Environment Bill

Another confirmed commitment is to new, legally binding environmental targets in the form of the much-delayed Environment Bill, which was was first launched in July 2018. The Government said it will pass the legislation in the run-up to the international Cop26 climate change summit in Glasgow at the end of year.

Animal Sentience Bill 

The Queen’s Speech will also ensure animals with a backbone will have a legal right to feel happiness and suffering. According to the Sunday Telegraph, an Animal Sentience Bill will enshrine in law that animals are aware of their feelings and emotions in order to make the UK a world leader in animal welfare.

Animals Abroad Bill

A new Animals Abroad bill is also expected to ban imports of hunting trophies, while a Kept Animals bill will ban families from keeping primates as pets.

Here is a further review of some other issues not related to animals or the environment:

Queen’s Speech 2021: The 13 new laws expected to be announced today | Metro News

Regards Mark

Sea Shepherd: There are many ways to save animals

#ThrowbackThursday# – Sea Shepherd

March 1979 – The Sea Shepherd was the first ship to go to the ice fields off the Eastern Coast of Canada for the sole purpose of protecting seals.

Before being arrested for approaching a seal hunt without permission of the government, Sea Shepherd crewmembers saved over a thousand baby seals by spraying their white pelts with an indelible organic dye to render them commercially worthless.

In March 1980, Captain Paul Watson was banned from the ice fields and the sealing areas for three years.

In March 1981 Captain Watson lead a crew with three ocean kayaks to the Gulf of St. Lawrence despite his parole order. Hundreds of seals were sprayed with harmless blue dye effectively saving their lives.

Captain Paul Watson’s conviction of 1980 was later overturned on appeal.
These and later interventions, plus high profile supporters helped start the demise of the Canadian fur seal hunt.

With recent moves by the EU to ban seal imports and major fashion houses across the globe to stop the use of any kind of fur in their designs, the end of a 40-year battle may finally be in sight.

Learn more about our history: https://bit.ly/2ifJ2wO
Support our efforts: https://bit.ly/2fz7okb

#Canada #TBT #Seal

And I mean…When I see how many fashion designers have banned fur from their creations in recent years, how many countries have closed their fur farms and how many department stores in Germany and throughout Europe have said goodbye to fur, then our fight has already had a positive result that strengthens us and we will continue to fight this fight.

My best regards to all, Venus

The European Federation for Hunting feels offended!

Statement of the “Committee Against Bird Murder”:

The umbrella organization of the European Hunting Associations (FACE = European Federation for Hunting and Conservation) has reacted to our press release on the subject of lovebird hunting and never tires of justifying the shooting down of millions of threatened migratory birds.

In a letter to the British magazine “Independent”, which reported last week about our campaign against lovebird hunting in Italy, FACE President Torbjörn Larsson complained about what he believed to be “reputational reporting” and justified the shooting of lovebirds by saying that Hunters reportedly created “thousands of acres” of protected areas for the species.

We have summarized in an open letter to FACE why this claim is nonsense and why lovebirds must be protected from hunters across Europe.

You can find our statement (in English) here: https://www.komitee.de/de/aktuelles/presse-meldungen/2021/lets-face-the-facts-about-turtle-dove-hunting-in-europe/

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-turtle-doves-hunt-kill-b1838163.html

https://www.facebook.com/Komitee.CABS/

And I mean…The president of this EU hunting association and of the Nordic Hunters Alliance, the Swede Larsson said in an interview:Is it not usually the Hunters’ Association’s attitude that there should be as liberal rules as possible for hunting and then each hunter must decide for himself or herself whether he or she wants to hunt?”

No, it is not!
In today’s civilized society, there is no place for hunting.
Hunting is a hobby for psychopaths.

Because … what state of mind can I expect in someone who cowardly shoots an animal while eating or flying its flight routes, although he does not need its flesh and skin for life and then calles this as a “hobby”, “nature conservation”, “Species protection”, “epidemic protection” or “tradition”?

So .. and now the 7 million members of the EU Hunter Association must have something to shoot, so let’s go for lovebirds this time

The only reason hunting even exists is because a strong and ruthless political lobby supports them, who are hunters themselves.

Wherever you are in the world, that your bigger problem is the hunter law that makes it legal carry a weapon with no purpose.

In addition:  If you like shooting defenseless animals, nobody can damage your reputation. There is simply no more good reputation to lose.

My best regards to all, Venus

Germany: Rescued raccoon given for execution

The Chemnitz fire brigade was called to an unusual mission on Saturday. Apparently a raccoon was in distress.
According to MDR reporters, the animal had been attacked by crows and fled to a tree, where it remained in shock.

Feuerwehrleute holen in einem Wohngebiet einen Waschbären vom Baum runter.
Bildrechte: ChemPic

Residents then called the fire department. The comrades fished the raccoon with a noose from the treetop.
The animal was handed over to the hunting tenant.

The hunting tenant did not provide any further details on the animal’s whereabouts (!!)

Invasive species

The raccoon, originally from North America, has spread widely in Germany due to the lack of natural enemies.
“The small predator can decimate local populations of other animal species and is therefore on the Union list of alien invasive species of EU-wide importance,” says a publication by the Saxon Ministry of the Environment.

Raccoons are subject to hunting law in the Free State.

Captured animals may not be released back into the wild.
Only knowledgeable persons, such as veterinarians or hunters, are allowed to kill the animals.

https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/chemnitz/chemnitz-stollberg/waschbaer-chemnitz-feuerwehr-100.html

And I mean…First saved and then delivered to the executioner.
Something like that could also be called fascism

My best regards to all, Venus

South Africa to ban breeding lions in captivity for hunting. But, “Legal regulated hunting of the iconic species under the regulatory environment will continue to be permitted,”. Hmm !

South Africa to ban breeding lions in captivity for hunting

South Africa to ban breeding lions in captivity for hunting (iol.co.za)

Susan Njanji

Pretoria – Environment Minister Barbara Creecy on Sunday revealed plans to ban the breeding of lions in captivity for trophy hunting or for tourists to pet, advocating a more “authentic” experience for visitors.

The decision was in response to recommendations contained in a government study into the controversial practice.

The panel studied the rules governing the hunting, trade and keeping in captivity of lions, elephants, rhino and leopards.

Creecy told a news conference that the study recommended a halt to the “domestication of lions through captive breeding and keeping.”

MORE ON THIS

SA tourism body calls for ban on captive lion breeding

Petition calls on Cyril Ramaphosa to halt big cat breeding

SA tarnished by abusive captive lion industry on World Lion Day, says watchdog

“We don’t want captive breeding, captive hunting, captive (cubs) petting, captive use of lions,” the minister said.

The decision, which is yet to be formulated into policy, is likely to set the government on a collision course with the powerful multi-million-dollar industry of captive lion breeding.

The minister said the recommendations were not aimed at stifling the hunting industry.

“Legal regulated hunting of the iconic species under the regulatory environment will continue to be permitted,” she said.

But the report urged a stop to “tourists’ interaction with captive lions, including cub petting”, Creecy noted.

The practice of hunting lions raised in captivity has long been controversial in South Africa, where a large number of animals are confined to pens ringed with electric fences.

Campaigns to ban the importation of captive-bred lion trophies have in recent years gathered steam in the United States, Australia and several European countries.

The minister said the tourism industry was susceptible to negative perceptions.

“The intention here is to ensure that those who are interested in… authentic wildlife hunting” will have such an experience and “will not be hunting animals that have been taken out of the cage,” she said.

South Africa counts between 8 000 and 12 000 lions at some 350 farms, where they are raised for hunting, tourism and academic research, according to estimates by wildlife groups.

They are also raised for their bones, used in medicine and jewellery in Southeast Asia, according to wildlife charities.

By contrast around 3 500 lions live in the wild in the country, according to the South African-based Endangered Wildlife Trust.

The global animal charity World Animal Protection hailed the government’s decision as “courageous”.

“Thousands of farmed lions are born into a life of misery in South Africa every year in cruel commercial breeding facilities,” said Edith Kabesiime, World Animal Protection’s campaign manager for Africa.

“This is a win for wildlife” and will ensure that “lions remain where they belong — in the wild,” she said.

Louise de Waal, director of the award-winning documentary feature film “Blood Lions” exposing the trade, said she was “extremely happy” at the government’s decision.

The panel also recommended the phasing out of captive rhino breeding and an examination of the future use of rhino horn stockpiles.

Home to about 80 percent of the world’s rhino population, South Africa has long attracted poachers, but it also counts more than 300 private rhino breeders.

Regards Mark

USA: Bill Aimed at Killing 90% of Idaho’s Wolves Headed to Governor’s Desk – Major Action Required NOW.

The Center for Biological Diversity do such a fantastic amount of work and legal challenges for the wildlife of the entire USA; they really do deserve as much support as you can give them.

Lots of good news, and actions for you to take, here at:

Center for Biological Diversity

For Immediate Release, April 27, 2021

Contact:Andrea Zaccardi, (303) 854-7748, azaccardi@biologicaldiversity.org

Bill Aimed at Killing 90% of Idaho’s Wolves Headed to Governor’s Desk

New Law Would Allow Hunters Unlimited Wolf Kills, Year-Round Trapping on Private Lands

BOISE, Idaho— The Idaho House of Representatives today approved a bill allowing the state to hire private contractors to kill up to 90% of Idaho’s wolf population of approximately 1,500 wolves.

“If this horrific bill passes, Idaho could nearly wipe out its wolf population,” said Andrea Zaccardi, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Unless we can stop this from becoming law, decades of progress towards wolf recovery will be lost.”

In addition to hiring private contractors to kill wolves, Senate Bill 1211 would allow hunters and trappers to kill an unlimited number of wolves, run down wolves with ATVs and snowmobiles, and trap year-round on all private land across the state. The bill will also increase annual funds for wolf killing by the Idaho Wolf Depredation Control Board from $110,000 to $300,000. Created in 2014, the Board uses taxpayer dollars and other funds to kill wolves.

Bill proponents assert that wolves kill too many elk and livestock. But wolves kill less than a fraction of 1% of Idaho’s livestock annually, and elk population numbers are above management objectives in most of the state.

As a result of today’s 58-11 approval, Gov. Brad Little must decide whether to sign the bill into law or veto it. If this bill is signed into law, the Center will be considering next steps to protect Idaho’s wolves and wildlife, which may include legal action.

“Governor Little must veto this cruel and disastrous bill,” said Zaccardi. “Idaho’s state wildlife agency should be allowed to continue to manage wolves, not anti-wolf legislators dead set on exterminating the state’s wolves. We’re going to do everything we can to fight for the survival of wolves in Idaho.”

GrayWolf_Tracy_Brooks_Mission_Wolf_USFWS_FPWC_HIGHRES-hpr.jpg

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Regards Mark – Please take as much action via the site link given above as you can.