03 December 2016
03.12.2016 - The Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency, through the Institute for Nature Protection and the Directorate for the Administration of Sharri National Park, has been following with concern the reports in recent days about the hunting of wild fauna species.
Reports from several non-governmental organizations and from various individuals, through photos and videos shared on social networks and portals, where the hunting of wild animals and other fauna species, mainly in the Dragash region, can be observed, are very concerning.
During the week, with the aim of protecting wild animals from illegal hunting, DAPK Sharri held meetings with the leaders of Hunters' Associations in Prizren and Dragash, who expressed willingness to cooperate in preventing illegal hunting. In the meetings, greater awareness among hunters regarding compliance with legal provisions and the care of wild animals was requested.
During this week, near the village of Bresanë (Dragash Municipality), which is located outside the territory of Sharri National Park, two wolves were killed by hunters from this municipality.
DAPK Sharri teams went to the scene and found that the hunting of these two wolves (photo circulated on the internet) took place at a considerable distance from the territory of Sharri National Park.
However, since the start of the hunting season, attempts at illegal hunting have increased in the territory of PK Sharri. Among the most targeted areas are: Oshlaku, Koxha Ballkani, Rusenica, Koritniku, and Brodi. In the Brodi area (Dragash Municipality), illegal hunters from Albania and Macedonia intervene, operating as an organized group. Among these illegal hunters, wild goats are the most endangered.
To prevent illegal hunting in the endangered areas, teams from DAPKSharri are engaged, while assistance has also been requested from Hunters' Associations and the Kosovo Police.
Nevertheless, AMMK reminds that hunting rare species of mammals, including wild goats (Rupicapra rupicapra), regardless of the location where it occurs, is prohibited by law and punishable.
For clarification and proper information of the public, we inform that hunting is prohibited throughout the territory of the National Park. Likewise, hunting is also prohibited in other areas outside National Parks except in hunting grounds designated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development. In this regard, AMMK requests the Hunting Inspectors of the Kosovo Forest Agency, the Environmental Inspectorate of MAFRD, the Hunters' Federation of Kosovo, and other Hunters' Associations, to keep hunting under control and to respect the legislation that protects rare species of fauna. AMMK also calls on investigative bodies, especially the Environmental Crime Unit of the Kosovo Police, to investigate the case and take measures in instances where there have been legal violations.