Controversial pig shooting: it is the public prosecutor's turn - free-range husbandry was not approved
Created: 06/22/2022, 07:01
By: Roland Lory
Location of the event: The pigs were kept in this enclosure near Großweil.
© Private
The Murnau police have completed the investigation into the controversial shooting of three alpine pigs in Großweil.
Numerous participants were questioned.
The documents are now with the public prosecutor's office in Munich II. Free-range keeping of the animals was not approved.
Großweil
– The case has stirred up dust, is a topic at the regulars' tables and columns for letters to the editor.
District hunting association boss Thomas Bär shot three alpine pigs in an enclosure near Großweil.
He didn't deny it at all.
"But it wasn't intentional.
I thought it was wild boar," defended the hunter.
The owner's daughter didn't believe Bär, saying: "It was definitely intentional." At the time, Bär confessed to the incident and suggested that the killed animals be kept in the refrigeration system of the Hotel Alpenhof in Murnau.
The pig farmer agreed.
He then filed a criminal complaint with the police.
The Police Inspectorate (PI) Murnau took on the incident that happened near the Großweil shaft power plant.
It was checked whether Bär had violated the Animal Welfare Act.
In addition, there is suspicion of damage to property and an administrative offense under the Bavarian Hunting Act and the Weapons Act.
Many stakeholders interviewed
The PI Murnau questioned numerous participants.
In the meantime, she has completed the investigation and sent the results to the Munich II public prosecutor's office.
This is reported by Deputy Head of Inspection Clemens Schmitz.
The public prosecutor's office is now examining the documents.
It can request further witness interviews or an expert opinion.
Then the PI Murnau might have to go back and do additional investigations.
Of course, the public prosecutor can also bring charges.
Meanwhile, the district office of Garmisch-Partenkirchen confirms a statement by Bär that the pigs were kept "illegally" on the property.
Wolfgang Rotzsche, spokesman for the district authority, says: "The pigs and free-range husbandry were not reported to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district office." And further: "The veterinary office should have been contacted" in order to have free-range husbandry approved in advance.
"An examination of the animals by the veterinary office is not planned." According to Rotzsche, however, the district authority has refrained from initiating a fine because it was not a matter of intent and the operator was noticed for the first time.
"However, he was warned accordingly."
By the way, according to the district office, the area was not too small, as some people think.
There are muddy spots, "but the animals have also been able to retreat to dry areas," reports Rotzsche.
Hertlein strengthens Bär's back
Hubert A. Hertlein from Murnau, active hunter and hunter trainer for 36 years, supports Bär.
“The keeper, a hunter, must also have been aware that wild boars were attracted by the smell of feed and the scent of the female Alpine pigs.” hairless domestic pig - has black hair all over the body.
Thus, it could "be confused with a wild boar in the forest tree shade".
District leaseholder Bär immediately admitted the erroneous shooting of the three alpine pigs and apologized to the owner.
Nevertheless, "some people still believe that they have to raise the spirits with irrelevant statements," Hertlein complains.
What the Murnauer also emphasizes: "Landowners are demanding intensive hunting of wild boars from the responsible hunters to protect their meadows and fields and to prevent African swine fever."
Also interesting:
Harsh criticism of the district manager
