It is a story that outrages Switzerland and makes headlines. In the Jura massif, a ranger accidentally killed three northern lynxes while hunting wolves. He was authorized to shoot canines, but obviously not protected species.
According to local media, the shooter reported himself alleging “error.” A criminal investigation was immediately opened. On Tuesday, November 26, the hunting and fishing office of the canton of Graubünden stated that the three lynxes killed were two young and one adult male. It is estimated that there are about 200 lynxes left in the area.
“A big mistake”
But how can you confuse a lynx and a wolf? “In principle, a forest ranger can distinguish wolves from lynxes even at night,” Adrian Arquint, director of the office, told the Keystone-ATS news agency.
“It was really a big mistake that we deeply regret. However, we must now take responsibility for it,” he added.
“The wolf looks like a German shepherd with a big tail, the lynx looks like a big cat, with a small tail (…) We are dealing with professional hunters who are normally experienced and competent. It’s crazy,” Patrice tells France 3 Raydelet, representative of the Jura Large Predators Pole.
In fact, there is a big difference in the constitution of the two animals, even in the shooting distance, around 50 meters in this case. “You don’t shoot prey if you haven’t perfectly identified it,” Alexandre Callodro, a hunter and owner of a gun shop in the Jura, told television angrily.
The lynx is a species protected by Swiss federal law. In France, illegal shooting is punishable by a fine of 150,000 euros and three years in prison.
Source: BFM TV
