The use of poison to control carnivores in Europe may seem like a nightmare of the past. However, current indicators demonstrate an alarming increase in this practice in several European countries; the number of raptors, vultures and mammals found dead has been growing year on year. In Spain alone 7 brown bears, 40 bearded vultures, 114 imperial eagles, 38 black storks, 168 golden eagles, 348 Egyptian vultures, 638 black vultures, 2,146 griffon vultures and 2,335 kites (both red and black) as well as hundreds of domestic pets have been killed in the last 15 years. These figures are just the tip of the iceberg, less that 15% of all poison deaths are reported.Photo:Young black vulture is ringed.
This cruel practice is illegal, it contravenes many European laws including:
- Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds
- Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora
We, the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) ask you, as a European citizen, to assert your rights and take a stand to preserve our natural heritage by signing the petition demanding better enforcement of the anti-poison legislation.
Photo:Same vulture found poisoned.
- Poison is one of the most serious threats to biodiversity in Europe;
- Poison damages many successful conservation initiatives;
- Using poison to control predators is illegal under European legislation;
- Poison is cruel and leads to a lingering death;
- Poison is non-selective an results in many unintended deaths.
Remember, the use of poison is unnecessary; conflicts between humans and carnivores can be resolved by sustainable, legal methods which don’t compromise biodiversity.
Sign the petition at a zoo near you or click on the "signing hand" to sign electronically!!
