On 8 May 2020, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the revised hunting ordinance.
After an initial review, the Swiss Animal Protection STS concludes: what applies to the law applies equally to the draft ordinance. The regulatory framework is a bow to hunters and wolf opponents.
According to the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN, the present implementing provisions of the hunting ordinance are intended to bring clarity regarding the revision of the Hunting Act, against which a referendum was successfully launched and which will come to a vote on 27 September 2020. However, rather than providing clarity, the electorate is being misled ahead of the vote with fine-sounding words such as “The ordinance strengthens the protection of protected animal species”.
Protected animal species — or not?
Even where positive aspects are discernible in the draft ordinance — for instance regarding population regulation of lynx, beaver, grey heron, and goosander — the protection of these species is more than uncertain. The Federal Council can declare them subject to regulation again at any time by ordinance, thereby releasing them for culling. Furthermore, individual measures — that is, the shooting of individual animals — are by no means excluded by the ordinance. So beware, beavers, lynx & Co.: even those classified as protected species will be shot if they cause damage or behave conspicuously. Under the proposed provisions, the mute swan comes under increased fire.
Culling permits for population regulation will be permitted. The ordinance seeks to further weaken the already barely existing legal protection of the wolf.The implementation of herd protection measures is no longer a mandatory prerequisite for authorising wolf culls.And even in wildlife sanctuaries, wolves and ibex are no longer to be safe.The ordinance intends to permit the culling of protected animals in protected areas.
Unacceptable Proposals
It comes as little surprise that, according to the ordinance, there is no discussion of banning the cruel earth-dog hunting (Baujagd), as the STS has long demanded. Training earth dogs on live foxes also remains permitted. Nor is any restriction on the number of driven hunts planned.
Whether law or ordinance, Swiss Animal Protection STS will never agree to legal regulations that include the possibility of shooting protected animals simply because they exist and occupy habitat. This contradicts every principle of animal welfare. Anyone who wants to prevent a massive setback for animal and species protection in Switzerland should vote No on 27 September 2020 to the flawed hunting law.
