Zurich: More Animal Welfare Protection for Wildlife
The new hunting law in the canton of Zurich is set to become significantly more wildlife-friendly: the preparatory committee of the cantonal council has decided to completely ban earth hunting for foxes. Drive hunting is also to be restricted. These are two controversial forms of hunting: in earth hunting, hunting dogs are sent into fox dens to drive the animals out into the open — directly into the sights of the sadistic hobby hunter
The new hunting law in the canton of Zurich is set to become significantly more wildlife-friendly: the preparatory committee of the cantonal council has decided to completely ban earth hunting for foxes.
Drive hunting is also to be restricted.
These are two controversial forms of hunting: in earth hunting, hunting dogs are sent into fox dens to drive the animals out into the open — directly into the sights of the sadistic hobby hunter.
Drive hunting, also known as battue or push hunting, is used to cull wild boar populations, for example. The pigs are startled with noise and aggressive hunting dogs and driven toward the hobby hunters.
In other cantons, such as the neighbouring canton of Thurgau, earth hunting is already banned. The canton of Geneva has had a general hunting ban for hobby hunters since 1974. In Geneva, no foxes, martens, badgers, etc. are culled simply because it is hunting season and misguided individuals want to pursue a hobby. This is also reflected in the federal hunting statistics. There are no drive hunts, earth hunts, or other sadistic practices by hobby hunters in Geneva. Typical Swiss values such as safety, animal welfare, and ethics are the guiding principles in Geneva.
Alcohol ban for hobby hunters in Zurich
In the canton of Zurich, earth hunting for foxes is now also to be completely banned. This is stated by the preparatory Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK) in a press release.
At least the driven hunt is to be restricted. For this type of hunting, the Building Directorate should be able to limit the number of events. The Green Building Director Martin Neukom should also have a say in the number of hobby hunters, beaters, and dogs deployed.
The new law may also spoil the warming Kafi-Lutz for hobby hunters: Anyone who hunts should only be permitted to do so in a sober state, the WAK decided. Anyone who repeatedly goes hunting while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or medication should be able to be excluded from hobby hunting.
Leash requirement in the forest
The WAK also calls for stronger protection of forests and wildlife in several clauses. For example, dogs should be required to be kept on a leash in and at the edge of forests during spring and summer, so as not to disturb young wildlife. Such a leash requirement is already in place in the cantons of Aargau, Lucerne, and Schaffhausen.
The proposal will now go to the cantonal council, which will deliberate on it at one of the upcoming sessions. Given the new red-green majority, the requested changes are likely to pass without difficulty.
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