About us

Feature	Information
Legal form	Interest group (IG)
Foundation	June 11, 2015
Headquarters	Acquarossa, Ticino, Switzerland
Purpose	Animal rights, nature and environmental protection
Method	Investigation, education, campaign, initiative
Scope of action	Switzerland, DACH region & International
Management	Carl Sonnthal
Website	wildbeimwild.com

The most influential hunting-critical platform in the German-speaking world

Wild beim Wild is an independent animal rights movement and the largest exclusively hunting-critical platform in the DACH region. With over 62,000 followers on Facebook, more than 1,100 posts on Instagram, 4,315,992 page views, 2,718,413 unique visitors and 3,696 published articles on wildbeimwild.com (as of March 2026), the IG reaches a community that is unparalleled in the field of recreational hunting criticism.

While major animal welfare organizations treat recreational hunting as one of many issues, Wild beim Wild has focused exclusively on this field since 2015. The result: a platform that delivers facts instead of hunters' tales, analyzes government data, contextualizes scientific studies, exposes lobby structures of recreational hunters and ensures through criminal complaints that animal welfare laws exist not only on paper – for wild animals and farm animals alike.

The fact that a thematically specialized interest group from Ticino achieves such reach shows: criticism of recreational hunting is no longer a fringe issue, but a growing societal concern.

One doesn't become a hunting opponent out of boredom, but from knowledge of this animal cruelty.

History

The IG Wild beim Wild was founded on June 11, 2015 in Switzerland by Carl Sonnthal to address the increasing pressure on wild animals from urbanization, agriculture and cruel recreational hunting. Originally created as a local initiative, the organization has evolved over the years into a transnational voice for wild animals and their protection. Today it is among the most important hunting-critical organizations in Switzerland and is known as a center of expertise against recreational hunting throughout the DACH region.

Goals

The overarching goal of IG Wild beim Wild is the abolition of recreational hunting and the introduction of contemporary wildlife management based on the model of Canton Geneva, which has had a hunting ban for hobby hunters since May 19, 1974: without recreational hunting, but with professional, ethical game wardens who act according to a code of honor.

In addition, the IG pursues the following goals:

Protection of habitats for wild animals
Protection of farm animals from regulatory failure, particularly in cases of inadequate herd protection and violations of animal welfare laws
Public education and awareness about wild animals and recreational hunting
Promotion of sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry
Cooperation with animal and nature conservation organizations, politicians and authorities
Support for scientific methods of immunocontraception as an alternative to lethal population control
Promotion of animal rights for wild animals who have no voice in political decisions

The IG fundamentally does not cooperate with hunting associations, JagdSchweiz or hunting-affiliated organizations.

Activities

IG Wild beim Wild conducts a variety of programs and projects:

Source-based research, dossiers and background analyses on wildlife species, hunting law, animal welfare and hunting politics
Publication of the guiding culture for hunting criticism, source-based arguments against recreational hunting and for professional wildlife protection
Template texts for hunting-critical initiatives in cantonal parliaments
Regular press releases and campaigns
Legal work: The legal department regularly files criminal complaints and supports proceedings to protect wild animals and farm animals – from animal cruelty in recreational hunting to regulatory failure in herd protection to political irresponsibility in cantonal governments
Support for the initiative «For professional wildlife protection» in collaboration with wildlife biologists and scientists
Collaboration with police and prosecutors regarding criminal activities of recreational hunters and other animal cruelty
Operation of the Hobby-Jäger-Radar and Hunt Watch
Production of videos and maintenance of social media channels
Support of animal sanctuaries and the vegan lifestyle
Online petitions and information campaigns
Support of third-party organizations in animal and nature protection, journalists and private individuals

How we work

Wild beim Wild publishes investigations, analyses and fact-checks on recreational hunting in Switzerland. Our content is based on verifiable sources: official culling statistics, court rulings, parliamentary motions, scientific studies and original documents from federal and cantonal authorities.

We clearly distinguish between three content formats:

Fact-check: Verification of a specific claim based on documentable data. We present the source situation, identify uncertainties and formulate a comprehensible conclusion.
Analysis/Dossier: Assessment of complex topics such as hunting legislation, wildlife management or criminality in the hunting context, with source references and context.
Commentary/Campaign: Clearly marked as opinion piece or campaign. Here IG Wild beim Wild positions itself politically and ethically.

Errors are corrected upon notification. Substantial corrections are transparently noted in the relevant article. If study evidence is only of limited reliability, we state this openly.

Who is behind Wild beim Wild

Carl Sonnthal founded Wild beim Wild in 2015 and has led the organization since then. He has intensively studied hunting law, wildlife biology, animal welfare policy and the structures of the Swiss hunting lobby over the years. His investigations into hunting crimes, official enforcement failures and the psychology of recreational hunting form the foundation of the platform.

The editorial team works with external specialists, including wildlife biologists, lawyers and journalists. On specific topics such as the Geneva model without recreational hunting, predator management or cantonal hunting laws, their expertise and source work flow into the articles.

Independence and financing

Wild beim Wild is a volunteer-run information and campaign platform. The IG does not accept donations itself. Anyone wishing to financially support animal welfare work should donate directly to the non-profit Stiftung Tiere in Not – Animal Help (STINAH), which among other things finances political and legal work. The IG receives no funds from hunting associations, the weapons industry, government agencies or political parties. No advertising is placed. This independence is a prerequisite for critical reporting on recreational hunting, the hunting lobby and the official handling of wildlife in Switzerland.

Positions

Recreational Hunting and Animal Welfare Law

Recreational hunting contradicts an enlightened, scientific and ethical understanding of nature and animals. Wild animals are sentient beings with social structures, pain perception and stress responses (cf. Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness, 2012). They cannot be "harvested" like vegetables or fruits as part of a recreational activity.

Article 1 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Act (TSchG) protects the dignity and welfare of animals. Article 26 TSchG makes clear: No one may unjustifiably inflict pain, suffering or harm on an animal, put it in fear or otherwise violate its dignity. The IG Wild beim Wild has been documenting for years how recreational hunting systematically undermines this principle.

Although it has been proven for decades (Luxembourg, Geneva, national parks) that foxes in particular do not require "regulation" through shooting, recreational hunters ignore scientific facts and disregard animal welfare laws.

Speciesism Against Wildlife

In Switzerland, anti-racism legislation prohibits discrimination against people based on their ethnic origin, skin color and religion. For animals, however, the legal situation is different: Non-native animal species are granted no protection, their right to life is legally denied based on their origin. Australian philosopher Peter Singer described this phenomenon in 1975 as "speciesism": the belief that humans, by virtue of their species membership, are superior to all other species and may treat them at will. The IG Wild beim Wild advocates that this attitude should no longer be accepted in a civilized society.

Non-violence as a Guiding Principle

Non-violence distinguishes the cultured human from predators in the animal world. Hunting passion is neither a mandate from society nor a right. The recreationally motivated harming and killing of wild animals normalizes behaviors such as cruelty, brutality and indifference to suffering that must be eliminated in human relationships.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is a guiding principle of the IG.

When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty!

Children's Rights and Recreational Hunting

Children and adolescents must be protected from all forms of violence. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child encompasses the right of all minors to physical and mental integrity. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child states:

Children must be protected from all forms of physical and psychological violence and from exposure to violence, such as domestic violence or violence against animals.

The passive and active participation of children and adolescents in hunting activities is inadmissible from the perspective of the IG Wild beim Wild. In 2023, the IG issued an appeal to protect minors from the harmful effects of violence in recreational hunting. Poland has already implemented this children's right and banned recreational hunting in the presence of minors.

Campaigns

Successes

Victory against JagdSchweiz (2020)

The IG Wild beim Wild filed criminal charges with the Gossau SG prosecutor's office against Hanspeter Egli, the former president of JagdSchweiz, head of the Andwil hunting society and president of the cantonal association Revierjagd St. Gallen. He was accused of, among other things, violations of the Federal Act against Unfair Competition, animal-torturing foreign hunts as well as violations of the Animal Welfare Act, specifically the "violation of an animal's dignity." Additionally, there was suspicion of assault and intimidation of the population through public incitement to violence.

JagdSchweiz responded by attempting to silence the IG. Troublesome contemporaries should, to use the words of the recreational hunters, be "silenced" and "disappear from the scene." The IG could not be intimidated and filed counter-charges.

On July 17, 2020, the court in Bellinzona ruled: Practically everything that is cruel, unnecessary and heartless is according to the legally binding judgment promoted by JagdSchweiz. The case was distributed nationwide by the Swiss News Agency (SDA) under the title "Switzerland's top hunter charged."

Criminal Charges for the Protection of Wild and Farm Animals

The IG Wild beim Wild enforces animal welfare law not only journalistically, but also legally. Since its founding, the legal department has filed numerous criminal charges that extend far beyond recreational hunting in the narrow sense:

Protection of farm animals: In Canton Ticino, the IG documented between October 2025 and February 2026 at least 38 livestock killed by wolf attacks, where the veterinary office took no action despite the lack of herd protection. The IG filed criminal charges for administrative failure. The public prosecutor's office opened an investigation.
Hunting psychology and enforcement deficits: The IG analyzed the psychology of recreational hunting in the cantons and exposed enforcement deficits in animal welfare law.
Hunting lobbyism in authorities: In Canton Aargau, the IG revealed how hunting lobbyists simultaneously hold sovereign offices and thereby undermine neutrality and rule-of-law trust.
Systemic judicial criticism: The IG documented in comprehensive research structural problems in the Grisons judicial system, which systematically turns a blind eye to hunting offenses.
Political responsibility: Criminal charges against Grisons Councilor Mario Cavigelli, who demonstrably misled the population and the Grand Council on hunting policy matters.
and much more.

This commitment shows: IG Wild beim Wild understands animal protection as law enforcement. Where authorities fail, veterinary offices look away, or politicians shirk responsibility, the IG intervenes legally, for wild animals and livestock alike.

Criminal charges against IOC and FEI (2021)

For animal cruelty during the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, IG Wild beim Wild filed criminal charges with the Lausanne public prosecutor's office against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI). The IOC and FEI were accused of violations of the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Ordinance.

Global pressure through media coverage led to a rethinking: modern pentathlon will in future be conducted without the equestrian discipline.

Get active

The movement is open to interested activists who want to work for the protection of wild animals and their habitats. No formal membership is required, only determination.

Are you planning a hunting-critical initiative, petition or action? The IG helps with expertise, network, research and facts.

The IG appeals to the population not to turn to hobby hunters when problems arise with wild animals, but to search online for expert wildlife consulting that applies peaceful solutions.

You can help all animals and our planet with compassion. Choose compassion on your plate and in your glass. Go vegan.