Position Statement on Lifting the Ban on Hunting of Red List Species in Georgia

19 January 2012

On 10th January 2012 the Georgian Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources published the following annual hunting quotas: Coypu – 194, Hare – 615, Badger – 168, Pine marten – 157, Stone marten – 157, Grey wolf – 120, Golden jackal – 1453, Red fox – 162, Wild cat – 77, Wild boar – 189, Roe deer 417, Racoon – 96, Pheasant 416, Chukkar partridge – 713, Black francolin - 50.

In our opinion, the above hunting quotas lack any scientific background because there have been no nationwide assessments of these species in Georgia and their population numbers are not known. It is also unclear what methods have been used to calculate the above numbers with such a peculiar accuracy (e.g. Wild boar – 189). It is extremely difficult to see any logic in those numbers e.g. a very high level harvest quota is set on golden jackal (1453), while only 96 is set on the raccoon, an alien and highly invasive species in Georgia.

Inadequate hunting quotas may be just as harmful to the wildlife as is illegal hunting especially in the situation where the quotas are not allocated by district. However with the recent governmental decision to lift the ban on red list species hunting, should the hunting quotas be set in the same manner, the consequences will be far more devastating – certain species may simply go extinct in Georgia!