PROPERTY SEARCH
Activists call for a ban on hunting drought-affected birds in the Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia has reported a worrying decline in species such as the quail, red partridge and turtle dove
The new hunting season has just kicked off in the Region of Murcia but several animal groups have called on the Ministry of the Environment to halt the sport as soon as it has begun. According to ANSE, Ecologistas en Acción and SEO/BirdLife, certain species should be excluded since their populations are in decline all across Spain. And to make matters worse, these animals are being wiped out at an alarming rate as a result of the ongoing drought and unseasonably high temperatures.
The government is well aware of the problem and, “in order to try to recover its populations,” hunting the common quail is restricted in the Region, but it will be perfectly legal to shoot two birds per day from August 20.
"There is a general decline of species such as the turtle dove or quail," explained Rubén Vives, from Ecologistas, who added that other hunting birds like the red partridge are also dying out in the Region.
Spain has already come under fire from the EU because of its hunting practices; the European turtle dove remains protected for the next year in Murcia after Brussels threatened to open an infringement process against the Spanish for not adequately preserving the specie’s habitat.
This hunting period, which is known as the ‘half season’, is a particularly “disastrous” time for endangered animals, according to ANSE biologist Jorge Sánchez, since it impacts birds that are still breeding.
On the other hand, Spanish hunters argue that the quotas for these birds are too small to really impact their populations in the Region. Furthermore, they point out that many of quail and partridges shot during the season are specially bred in hunting farms.
Image: Pexels
See more news about animals in Spain:
OR
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin to get a comprehensive email with all the week’s news for Spain, Murcia, Alicante and Andalucía.
Get a sneak peek – here are a few of our recent Subscription Bulletins:
50% Discount Special Offer subscription:
24.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
Contact Spanish News Today: Editorial 966 260 896 /
Office 968 018 268
