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Illegal quail hunting in Burgenland: bird calls in the hunters’ sights!
Illegal hunting practices in Burgenland: BirdLife reveals how electronic lure devices endanger the quail population.
Illegal quail hunting in Burgenland: bird calls in the hunters’ sights!
Things are boiling in Burgenland: A current investigation by the nature conservation organization BirdLife has uncovered serious grievances in quail hunting. Despite strict legal requirements that prohibit the use of electric sound dummies, the use of these illegal hunting methods has been documented in the Neusiedl/See region. According to Heute, twelve active decoys designed to attract quail were found in the first half of September. Quail are still hunted in Burgenland, although the EU Commission classifies these practices as “probably unsustainable” and recommends hunting until regulated management is introduced.
If you look at the numbers, the scale of the problem becomes clear: Between 2021 and 2023, an estimated 500 to 700 quail were shot in Burgenland every year, and the hunting season is very limited. BirdLife criticizes the need for independent game wardens to stop such illegal activities. Even though quail hunting in Burgenland is the only legal hunting method of this type in Austria, it is about much more than just a tradition.
The bigger picture of wildlife crime
But the problem of wildlife crime is much broader than one might initially think. Human land use and illegal killings threaten biodiversity not only in Austria, but throughout Europe. According to BirdLife, birds of prey are particularly affected; Illegal persecution is one of the main dangers in Central Europe. In addition, the illegal shooting and poisoning of animals such as the imperial eagle is much more widespread than expected. Of 61 imperial eagles found in Austria, 21 were victims of illegal hunting.
The participants in the LIFE project “wildLIFEcrime”, which runs until 2028 and is funded by the EU, want to counteract this development with concrete measures. The project team, consisting of 13 partner organizations, is committed to improving the investigation of such crimes and holding the perpetrators accountable. It is also important to raise public awareness and create guidelines to support the investigative authorities.
The role of the EU and the challenges
But what is the EU doing about this constant threat? In a statement from IFAW it is clear that the illegal wildlife trade has grown into one of the largest markets for organized crime. Many species are now threatened with extinction, which also threatens public health and global security. While there is already progress through an action plan and the feasibility study, there are still massive legal gaps that are being exploited, meaning the illegal wildlife trade often remains easy.
To counteract this, IFAW is calling on the EU to close legal loopholes and introduce a comprehensive database on wildlife imports. This is the only way to ensure sustainable protection and punish crimes that would otherwise continue to thrive in the shadow of crime.
It is clear that a rethink is necessary in the perception of our cultural landscape and our interaction with nature. Hunting is part of our tradition, but only when practiced in a sustainable and legal way. The ball is now in the court of those responsible – decisive reforms are needed to stop wildlife crime and do justice to our nature.