Millions of animals bred for hunting

In France, millions of animals are bred specifically for hunting, a practice that has drawn criticism from animal welfare groups. Organizations like Nos Viventia argue that the conditions in which these animals are raised are inhumane.

Conditions described as "infernal"

Pierre Rigaux, leader of Nos Viventia, has investigated several intensive farms and describes the conditions as "infernal." Animals are kept in tiny cages, and young birds are given plastic devices on their beaks to prevent self-injury. One example is Cyrano, a pheasant rescued by herbalist Francois Roger de Loraille.

Annual production for hunting

Nos Viventia claims that several million animals are produced each year in France for hunting, including pheasants, partridges, ducks, rabbits, hares, deer, and boars. The latest national data, from 2013-2014, estimated that three million pheasants were shot, with most coming from farms.

Breeding for appearance and strength

Rigaux argues that the breeding process involves crowding animals together to produce birds strong enough to appear wild. Breeders must sell birds that look healthy, as a chicken breeder would not care about producing birds unable to stand.

Ecological concerns raised

The practice of releasing farmed animals into the wild has raised ecological concerns. A 2018 study in the Journal of Applied Ecology highlighted risks such as disease spread and competition with wild species. A 2023 study in Communications Biology found that farm-raised ducks are altering the genetic makeup of wild populations, particularly in Central Europe.

Criticism of hunting practices

Rigaux criticizes the practice as an "archaic" view of nature, arguing that biodiversity should be managed to allow life to flourish in balance, not for recreational hunting. While some in the hunting community question whether shooting farmed pheasants counts as real hunting, the hunting lobby remains united in defending these farms.

Call to close farms

Nos Viventia is now demanding that the ministers in charge of Ecology and Agriculture close these farms and prohibit the creation of new ones, citing the inhumane conditions and ecological risks involved.