Saarland: Calls for a Ban on Fox Hunting
Animal welfare organisations are calling for a ban on fox hunting in Saarland. Hobby hunting of foxes is ecologically pointless and cruel.
The fox enclosure used for hunting dog training at Neunkirchen Zoo is causing outrage not only in Saarland.
In response to the protests surrounding the fox-baiting facility in Neunkirchen, the Saarland Greens are not only calling on the Mayor of Neunkirchen to shut down the enclosure, but are also reaffirming their demand for a ban on fox hunting in Saarland.
On Sunday, 07.08.2022, around 150 people gathered at Neunkirchen Zoo on the initiative of WITAS (Wildlife & Species Conservation) for a vigil, including members of the Saarland Greens, PETA, the citizens’ initiative Pro Fuchs, the Alliance for Animal Rights, the Animal Protection Party and many others, to jointly draw attention to this animal cruelty. “The director of the zoo, Norbert Fritsch, is increasingly contradicting himself in his statements about the fox enclosure. Some hunters are also desperately clinging to their notions that fox hunting serves a purpose. It remains unclear whether the already-constructed enclosure has received planning permission”, said Sullenberger, state chairwoman of the Saarland Greens.
For the vigil, the LAG Animal Protection of the Saarland Greens published a dedicated collection of arguments with 10 reasons for banning fox hunting.
For Uta Sullenberger, chairwoman of the Saarland Greens, fox hunting is justifiable neither from an ecological nor an ethical standpoint. “The experience in Luxembourg, where fox hunting has been banned since 2015, clearly shows that the described horror scenarios have not materialised. On the contrary, a healthy fox population has established itself and many problems, such as the feared fox tapeworm, have declined.”, said Uta Sullenberger. “
The evidence clearly shows that fox hunting results in animals being killed without justification and subjected to great suffering. As a leisure activity, we as a society can no longer accept something like this, in our view.
Since foxes also frequently venture near residential areas, the Greens of Saarland see a need for action here as well.
In the wild, foxes are naturally shy. Non-lethal measures such as noise or light drive the animals away without causing them suffering. Simple technical measures can keep foxes away from settlements in cases of conflict.
Green Party Chairman Dr. Ralph Nonninger
Overall, the Greens of Saarland consider a healthy fox population to be beneficial for the ecological condition of the environment. Acting as a health police, they cull sick and elderly animals and keep pests such as mice and rats in check.
