Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
NGOs concerned with environmental protection have criticised the police, saying that their inves-
tigations are very lax and generally show little interest in apprehending the perpetrator(s). This
is partly because the police will not investigate a case before laboratory analysis has been con-
ducted (usually by the State Veterinary Institute) and the use of poison has been established. This
delays investigations and private citizens or organisations must pay for analyses in order to move
the process forward. Imprisonment for one, two or even fi ve years, a ban on professional activ-
ities or a fi nancial penalty are the most serious legislative consequences in connection with the
Czech Criminal Code. When a company is suspected to have breached the law, an 'entrepreneur'
(i.e., acting on behalf of a business) can be fi ned an amount not exceeding 1 000 000 CZK (in excess
of 50 000 USD, under the Chemical Substances and Preparations Act). A 'non-entrepreneur' (i.e., a
person whose activities are for personal rather than commercial use) can be fi ned a value not exceed-
ing 500 000 CZK (in excess of 25 000 USD, under the Plant Medical Care Act).
In this country, birds of prey are the most common victims of wildlife poisoning and as a result
the Czech Ornithological Society (COS) is the leading organisation that deals with the issue of
carbofuran poisoning. Since 2006, the organisation has developed a central database for registering
the poisoning of animals by carbofuran (see www.karbofuran.cz). COS often pays for laboratory
analysis of samples and offer on their website a reward for any person who gives information lead-
ing to the capture of those who poison wildlife. Every documented case of poisoning is divulged
through the COS website, in newspapers and on television, with the aim of raising the awareness of
the general public regarding poisoning of wildlife and discouraging such behaviour. COS also joined
forces with the Czech and Moravian Hunting Association and prepared a leafl et about poisoning of
wildlife (go to: www.karbofuran.cz/misc/Smrt_po_kapkach.pdf).
The Ministry of Environment of the Czech Republic recently acknowledged the problem of
wildlife poisoning and, in 2010, initiated a meeting with responsible partners from the Ministry
of Agriculture, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and various NGOs to coordinate and improve activi-
ties that prevent the poisoning of wildlife. With specifi c regards to the use of carbofuran as a poison,
we think this is a very good thing, because the ban was quite recent and, before its implementation,
carbofuran products were freely available to the general public and widely used in agriculture. Given
the possibility that an unknown quantity of stockpiles of carbofuran products remain in the Czech
Republic and that knowledge of carbofuran as a relatively easy way to dispose of 'nuisance' animals
from fi shponds has spread among fi shermen, we cannot exclude a possible outbreak in its use as a
poison wildlife in the country in the coming years.
5.3 Persecution and poisoning of birds of prey in the Netherlands
Hugh Jansman,
1
Peter van Tulden
2
1
Alterra-Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, NL-6700 AA Wageningen,
The Netherlands
2
Coördinator onderzoek Wilde Fauna, CVI (Centraal Veterinair Instituut),
Postbus 65 8200 AB Lelystad, H Edelhertweg 15/Research Coordinator
Fauna, Centraal Veterinair Instituut
5.3.1 Introduction
Although strictly forbidden by law (i.e., on fl ora and fauna, animal welfare and crop protection/
biocides), persecution of wildlife remains a common practice in the Netherlands (i.e., Holland).
Unfortunately, legal enforcement of wildlife issues is very poor here, which makes it diffi cult to
fi nd and pursue the culprit(s). As a result, we lack accurate data regarding the frequencies, locations,
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