Graubünden: Criminal Complaint Filed Against Hunting Authority

At the end of August, the association Wildtierschutz Schweiz filed a criminal complaint against Dr. Georg Brosi and his deputy Hannes Jenny of the Office for Hunting and Fisheries.

The complaint concerns failure to prevent criminal offences under the Hunting Act as well as aiding and abetting the endangerment of life and limb. Further counts include aiding and abetting the deliberate poaching of a protected species by a hobby hunter, and aiding and abetting the contamination of a nationally significant nature reserve with lead ammunition.

Baiting Sites as a Problem

The Office for Hunting and Fisheries in Graubünden had previously been asked by various parties to remove baiting sites set by the dubious problem hunter R. J. * in the Oberkunkels area of the municipality of Vättis. This office is, however, well known far beyond the cantonal border for the fact that nothing is above board when it comes to Mr. Georg Brosi — a typically hunter-like «good-old-boys» mentality prevails.

In Graubünden, the so-called «pass hunt» takes place well into winter (until the end of February). Wildlife often leave a clearly visible trail, known as a «pass.» This is the origin of the term «pass hunt,» in which hobby hunters lie in wait for wildlife along their routes. A baiting site is a location used to lure and hunt predators such as foxes, badgers, martens, etc. Parts of animals, fish, or pet food are used as bait. Especially during times of winter hardship, hungry wild animals are lured in, habituated, and deceived, only to be killed maliciously and lazily, usually for fun. This underhanded, treacherous, and cowardly form of hunting reveals the negative character traits of the human being within the hobby hunter. Normal people are simply not capable of slaughtering living creatures in such a despicable manner. Hobby hunting of, for example, healthy foxes is an outrage and, from a wildlife biology and ethical standpoint, utter nonsense beyond compare.

«Low game hunting is not necessary, but it is justified. One might equally ask whether it makes sense to pick berries and mushrooms in the forest.» Robert Brunold, President of the BKPJV Graubünden

Risk to Life and Limb

According to the criminal complaint, one baiting site is located above a hiking and access path that lies directly in the line of fire and is not immediately visible to recreational users or the hobby hunter. In addition, this baiting site is situated approximately 60 metres from an operational sheep barn.

This baiting site poses an acute danger not only to local residents, putting life and limb at risk.

Pass hunter R. J. from 7206 Igis used all types of ammunition, some producing an extremely loud bang, as a result of which lambs have already died of heart failure, the ewes are startled every time, and the barn can only be partially used, the animal welfare advocates complain.

Due to the extensive placement of bait at the baiting site, witnesses report that it also regularly and unnecessarily attracts wolves. It must therefore be assumed that this is being done deliberately, in order to serve poaching purposes as well.

According to the wolf management concept, a wolf's behavior can also be classified as conspicuous or undesirable if it approaches houses that are only «occasionally» inhabited during the day, or, depending on the circumstances, if these are isolated houses or scattered settlements. This applies to Oberkunkels, as it involves several houses and farm buildings. The Office for Hunting and Fisheries demonstrably has no interest in this and is in no way fulfilling its mandate to uphold law and order.

Lead Ammunition in the Nature Reserve

The second bait site is located just below the hiking trail described above. There, contrary to regulations, shots are not fired at the bait site from a fixed building, but from behind a pile of stacked brushwood.

The second bait site is located in a nature reserve of national importance. This bait site has been shot at with lead ammunition for years, contaminating the entire bog area. This nature reserve is being enormously damaged by the ammunition contamination and the unauthorized logging carried out by the hobby hunter.

Despite intervention by the leaseholder, hobby hunter R. J. and the Office for Hunting and Fishing continue to ignore this environmental pollution. In addition, the hobby hunter operates a minimum of two bait sites on Kunkel territory and three more in his district of Igis, which is not permitted by law.

«Even without hunting, there would not suddenly be too many foxes, hares or birds. Experience shows that nature can be left to its own devices.» Heinrich Haller, National Park Director and wildlife biologist

Laws are being violated on multiple counts, and the hobby hunter is not being brought to account by the Office for Hunting and Fishing, writes the association Wildtierschutz Schweiz in conclusion to the criminal complaint.

TV Südostschweiz spoke with Marion Theus from the association Wildtierschutz Schweiz about the charges.

*Name known to the editorial team