Wildlife

Turtle Dove Hunting Reform in Europe

Legal hunting of European turtle doves on migration routes contributes significantly to the species' catastrophic decline.

Key Facts

Turtle dove populations have declined 90%+ across Europe since the 1980s
An estimated 1-2 million turtle doves are legally shot on migration routes annually
EU hunting regulations allow member states to set their own seasons for declining species
Conservation organizations and hunting bodies are negotiating International Species Management Plans

Welfare Considerations

Turtle dove hunting contributes individual welfare harm and population-level devastation simultaneously. Shot birds may be wounded and not retrieved. Surviving birds face increasing predation pressure as populations thin. The international nature of migration means that protection in breeding areas is undermined by hunting pressure on migration routes in other countries.

What You Can Do

Support International Species Management Plans for turtle dove hunting reform
Advocate for hunting moratoria on endangered migratory species across EU member states
Support organizations pressuring hunting federations to support turtle dove conservation
Raise awareness of migratory bird hunting pressure as a conservation and welfare issue