Hobby hunter let killed animals rot

A 62-year-old hobby hunter from Bad Kreuznach is convicted after carcasses in various stages of decomposition were found on his property.

Editorial team Wild beim Wild — 30 September 2021

When searched in spring 2019, the Bad Kreuznach property of a 62-year-old hobby hunter was strewn with carcasses in the most varied stages of decomposition.

Carcasses in all stages of decomposition

Gutted wild animals, dead fox cubs piled up in a slaughter room, dead rabbits in a dovecote, and wild boar carcasses in a dog kennel — that is how police officers and district authority staff found the farm.

The appalling conditions were the subject of proceedings against the wildlife killer, which have now concluded with a verdict. The hobby hunter was convicted of illegal handling of waste and violations of the Animal Welfare Act and sentenced to a fine of 300 daily rates at 30 euros each and an additional penalty of 5,000 euros.

The wildlife killer thereby violated the Animal Welfare Act by killing the wild animals without justification and then letting them rot on his property. “As a hobby hunter he has specialist knowledge and should have known better”, said Judge Pleschko.

Lifelong ban on keeping animals

In addition, a lifelong ban on keeping and caring for animals of all species was imposed on him. “This is a truly exceptional case involving a high degree of criminal energy and a complete lack of any sense of wrongdoing”, commented public prosecutor Heike Finke on the proceedings.

Back in 2013, the district authority had already issued a ban on keeping animals against the defendant because conditions on his farm had given cause for complaint. Two sets of proceedings with similar charges in 2013 and 2016 left the trained winemaker and passionate hobby hunter unfazed. He subsequently continued to circumvent the ban on keeping animals — right up to the present day — by registering dogs in his partners' names or working as a dog trainer despite the prohibition.