Geneva's Hunting Ban Boosts Biodiversity, but Animal Suffering Persists
Geneva, Switzerland, has enjoyed hunting-free status since 1974, leading to a surge in biodiversity and stable wildlife populations. Meanwhile, modern science confirms that animals experience pain and emotions akin to humans, challenging the ethics of recreational hunting.
Geneva's hunting ban has resulted in a boom in biodiversity, stable hoofed animal populations, high hare density, and significant bird conservation. However, recreational hunting continues to cause severe suffering to wild animals. Injured animals are often tracked down, trapped, or disturbed, leading to unnecessary pain and stress.
Many nature conservation organizations are influenced by hobby hunters, potentially hindering initiatives against recreational hunting or failing to protect wild animals from hunters. In Germany, organizations against animal cruelty by hunting, such as Wolfsschutz-Deutschland e. V. and SOKO Tierschutz e.V., challenge hunting practices as unethical and harmful to wildlife. The argument that recreational hunting is necessary for population control is false, as feeding and other interventions create unnatural overpopulation.
Hunting is not nature conservation, but a relic of feudal times. It causes animal suffering, undermines nature conservation, and contradicts modern ethical standards. The classification of game species into 'small' and 'big' is a remnant of a class-based society and continues to shape hunting today.
Everyone can take action to curb recreational hunting by educating others, engaging in public relations, documenting animal suffering, disturbing hunters, and getting involved politically. It's time to move away from this outdated practice and prioritize the well-being of wild animals and nature conservation.
