A pond farm in the Upper Lusatian Heath and Pond Landscape biosphere reserve has been authorized to shoot beavers for the first time - as a last resort if no other measures prove effective. The Saxony State Directorate justified the permit on the grounds of the serious damage that the beaver had caused to the farm. The pond owner had submitted the application. It is an exceptional decision for this individual case. Conservationists reacted with horror.
Shooting as a last resort
"Priority was given to a so-called live removal with relocation to France. Only when the possibilities of live removal are demonstrably exhausted does the decision also permit killing as a last resort," a spokeswoman for the regional directorate said. However, it is not currently assumed that this final step - culling - will be necessary.
"The approval is intended to limit the economic damage to the group of ponds and to sustainably secure the group of ponds as a key component of the local protected area (FFH area)," the authority stated.
