Songbird Trapping in the Salzkammergut: Complaints with Success

The Regional Administrative Court (LVwG) of Upper Austria has upheld the complaints of the Association Against Animal Factories (VGT) and Animal Protection Austria against around 30 notices regarding songbird trapping in the Salzkammergut. The district authorities must now conduct much more thorough examinations. The songbird trapping in the Salzkammergut is officially listed in the national register of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage.

Animal Rights Activists Criticize Tradition as Animal Cruelty

In autumn, bullfinches, goldfinches, siskins, and crossbills are caught using decoy birds and kept in aviaries over the winter, shown at an exhibition, and released again in spring. However, animal rights activists criticize the tradition as animal cruelty.

The trapping season is from September 15 to the end of November, and a permit from the district authority is required for trapping. According to VGT, about 370 permits were issued this year, and complaints were filed against around 30 of them by animal rights activists. These complaints were upheld, and the notices must be reissued. Essentially, the district authorities have been tasked with conducting more research. Among other things, a current report on the good conservation status of the species is needed, it must be ensured that no other species are caught, etc. Additionally, the permits should not be issued for three years.

Costs Played a Role According to VGT

For the VGT, it is clear that all 370 permits for songbird trapping are illegal because they "practically have the same wording." The notices should actually be examined individually. However, due to cost reasons, complaints were only filed against around 30, according to the VGT. The other notices are now legally binding according to the LVwG. For the recipients of the 30 contested notices, nothing changes, as the complaint had a suspensive effect and now the trapping season is over.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.