Turtle doves to be shot for sport again across Europe as EU lifts hunting ban

The EU has decided to allow the hunting of turtle doves, permitting 132,000 birds to be shot across Spain, France, and Italy despite recent evidence of their population recovery due to a ban that was implemented in 2021. This gentle species faces extinction in the UK and is classified as vulnerable globally. Conservationists are concerned that lifting the ban will threaten their continued recovery, as successful population boosts have been linked with enforced hunting bans, contrasting with regions where bans are poorly enforced.

"The turtle dove did its part. Left alone, it started to recover. But governments failed to uphold their end of the deal."

"According to BirdLife International, data shows that bans on hunting are successful in boosting populations."

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