Every year thousands of animals are illegally shot in Poland by hunters who exceed hunting quotas.

Hunters from the Polish Hunting Association often kill more animals than allowed. Over the last three years in the eastern Lublin region alone, over 4,500 animals, including deer, roe deer, wild boars, foxes and hares, were shot illegally.

A report by the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau shows that the State Treasury lost over 4.3 million zloty (1 million euro) on excessive shooting in the Lublin region.

According to Polish law, hunters who unlawfully shoot animals may face a one-year prison sentence and a fine reaching 1,000-14,000 zloty (250-3,450 euro).

“The problem is local authorities do not punish hunters who repeatedly exceed hunting quotas and as a result almost the whole population of hares is extinct in Poland,” says a hunter from Lublin.

“Hunters who exceed the shooting quota should not be treated as poachers,” argues Dariusz Lukasik, a hunter from the south-eastern town of Bilgoraj. Lukasik claims that hunters associated in hunting clubs always ask game-keepers for permission to shoot additional animals. (mg/jb)

Source: Rzeczpospolita

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