Rejected «Let the Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare Live!»
The popular initiative «Let the Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare Live!» demanded a ban on hunting mountain hares and ptarmigans in the canton of Uri.
This initiative in the canton of Uri was not only an expression of species and animal protection, but also a response to climate change and its effects on the habitats of these species.
Their populations are declining and the animals are already listed on the Red List of threatened species. The debate has intensified in recent years.
In 2023, 244 ptarmigans and 837 mountain hares were still shot for fun by hobby hunters across Switzerland. A ban on recreational hunting can help stabilise the population in Uri as well and secure the survival of the species.
The canton of Ticino ended this abhorrent hunt in 2021. The abolition of the senseless hunting of ptarmigans and mountain hares is an important signal at both cantonal and national level for the protection of nature and increasingly threatened species.
Their adaptation to cold habitats makes the ptarmigan and the mountain hare particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. As temperatures rise, these animals lose their habitat, leading to a decline in their populations.
The protection of these wild animals is not merely a question of species and animal welfare, but also has implications for overall biodiversity. Wildlife plays an important role in the ecological balance.
More and more people are aware of the importance of species protection. This vote has shown that a majority of the population of Uri does not support hunting protection for these wild animals.
