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Hedgehog as a delicacy? Two men arrested in Cuxhaven for poaching!
Two men in Lower Saxony were arrested for illegal hedgehog hunting. The police are investigating animal welfare violations.
Hedgehog as a delicacy? Two men arrested in Cuxhaven for poaching!
What's going on in the Cuxhaven district? In a bizarre affair, police in the east have arrested two men, aged 49 and 50, who are suspected of deliberately catching hedgehogs to eat. Loud NDR A battalion of hedgehogs was discovered during an inspection of a van from Bremerhaven, informed by attentive witnesses. There were two trapped animals in the vehicle, while another hedgehog was thrown away by one of the men shortly before the inspection.
The allegations should not be underestimated: The men are facing prosecution for violations of the Federal Nature Conservation and Animal Welfare Act. This legal basis protects hedgehogs as specially protected animals. This means that catching, injuring or killing hedgehogs is absolutely forbidden in Germany. Depending on the federal state, the penalties can be correspondingly high; in Lower Saxony there is a risk of up to five years in prison or fines of up to 50,000 euros bussgeldkatalog.org reported.
Protection of hedgehogs and their habitats
The legal provisions are clear: Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, which has been in force since 2009, states that stalking, catching or killing wild animals, such as domestic hedgehogs, is strictly prohibited. In addition, damaging or destroying their breeding or resting places is punishable, which points to the high legal importance of hedgehog protection. The regulations also prohibit taking possession of the animals or using them for commercial purposes, as stated on tierarztpraxis-wandsbek.de shown.
After an investigation by the Nature Conservation Agency, the freed hedgehogs were released alive and are now back in their natural environment. These measures are crucial because the hedgehog population in Lower Saxony is already declining. Stefanie Röse from hedgehog care in the Cuxhaven district expressed concern about the frightening situation and warned of the risks of eating hedgehogs due to possible parasite infestations.
Call for clarification
The incidents raise questions: Why are hedgehogs considered a delicacy in certain cultures? The investigation also reminds us that there have been repeated indications of potential hedgehog hunters over the last twelve months. Police spokesman Stephan Hertz is checking whether they may be the same people. This makes it all the more important to raise awareness for the protection of these animals. NABU is actively committed to saving hedgehogs and appeals to the population: Hedgehogs are valuable providers of livestock and their protection should be important to all of us.
An important message is that people should help hedgehogs rather than harm them. Tips for helping hedgehogs are varied and include, among other things, building hedgehog houses or creating overwintering places in the form of piles of leaves. Anyone who sees a hedgehog in need of help should act quickly and contact a hedgehog station or a veterinarian.