Activists of the association, accompanied by journalists, were violently attacked Monday morning by residents in Audon, in the Landes, while conducting an operation against poaching finches, a protected species.
The day started off well begun Monday for members of the Bird Protection League (LPO). At dawn, they released unhindered few finches trapped in a corn field. But when they went a few kilometers from there to lead a similar action, the welcome was not the same. Focused on the release of captured birds, the bird conservationists, and six journalists who followed their operation, were surprised by a local resident. The man left his house, shovel in hand, insulting journalists and activists. “We spoke on an installation of dozens of traps. When we tried to remove matoles, people came out in great force, we took three or four shots shovel, there are four or five in this case, “said Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the association. A second bordier meddled in the conflict, armed with an agricultural tool. The attack lasted about fifteen minutes and stopped the arrival of the police. . Result: flat tires, equipment of some journalists stolen, injury but twenty saved finches
threatened Biodiversity Allain Bougrain-Dubourg assaulted by a resident Photo Credits: GAIZKA Iroz / AFP
Following a finding of abuse and degradation of the vehicles by the gendarmerie, the President of the LPO and activists who accompanied him went to Dax to complain against alleged poachers.
The League chaired by Allain Bougrain-Dubourg launches every year since 2010, actions against poaching finches in Landes, including the destruction of matoles, small wire baskets in which hunters capture these birds protected since 1976, in order to make their meal. “Anyone can see these traps from the road, impunity continues! It is the State that is responsible, I am astonished that the Ministry of Ecology does not move when he knows very well that it exists and the Biodiversity Law is in full debate in Parliament “s’ railed the President of the LPO, denouncing a “gap between the official discourse and ground truth”. According to him, a “derogation” given by the French government to catch larks serve as an alibi for capturing passerines yet protected.
The members of the LPO release finches trapped Copyright: GAIZKA Iroz / AFP
Birds maimed
France is one of the 10 Mediterranean countries where the bird poaching rate is the highest. In France between 149.000 and 895.000 volatile are killed illegally each year. A figure in perspective against our Italian and Egyptian neighbors who are killing on average, respectively, 5.6 million and 5.7 million a year.
The Bird Protection League launched last August, a petition to fight against poaching of these birds. The waterfront has attacked militants Monday, meanwhile, indicated they sue for trespass.
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