Civil society organisations and members of parliament have sent a joint appeal to the authorities calling for a ban on hunting. Activists regard this practice as outright murder, which is unacceptable in a humane society, particularly during a full-scale war when Ukraine’s biodiversity is already being reduced as a result of the hostilities.
This was reported by UAnimals.
Animal rights campaigners stress that entire ecosystems are already dying out due to shelling, landmines and fires caused by enemy attacks, so there is absolutely no justification for further violence.
“True bravery lies in defending the country, rescuing the wounded and protecting others. Shooting defenceless animals is cynical cruelty. We call for a ban on hunting in Ukraine! There is no place in a humane society for entertainment built on death and violence,” the organisation emphasised.
The appeal to ban hunting has been sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the State Agency for Forest Resources.
Signatories to the appeal include the Association of Animal Welfare Organisations of Ukraine, the NGO URSA, “One Planet”, “Law of Nature” and others.
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Economy, around 75,200 animals have been lost in Ukraine since the full-scale war began in 2022. These are, however, only rough estimates, as, according to animal welfare campaigners, it is impossible to quantify the exact damage to wildlife.
EcoPolitic recently reported that the Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration had authorised hunters to shoot animals in the Podilski Tovtry National Nature Park. However, the District Administrative Court ruled in favour of activists from the KECC and declared the decision unlawful.
