Wild rabbits accused of damaging the gardens and pipes around the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris have been captured since the end of January to be released in Seine-et-Marne, AFP learned on Tuesday from the police headquarters.
“Two operations have taken place since January 25 with an identical result: 24 healthy rabbits were taken each time, released after vaccination” on the private estate of Bréau (Seine-et-Marne), whose owner gave his agreement, the police headquarters told AFP.
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Six capture operations, carried out by teams of 8 to 12 trappers under the supervision of the Paris louveterie lieutenant, Yves Laborde, are scheduled between now and February 29.
In total, the population of wild rabbits around Les Invalides is estimated at 300 pairs of ears, according to the decree signed on January 10 by the prefect of police Laurent Nuñez.
“Capturing rabbits causes intense stress”
“Overpopulation on the site leads to degraded living conditions and health risks,” estimates the police headquarters, citing the “mortality of rabbits and the bait they constitute for rats.”
Furthermore, the cost of restoring the site, damaged by "the multiplication of underground galleries" and the "deterioration of the gardens, pipes, flora" was estimated at 366,000 euros excluding taxes.
“The area in which they are reintegrated is a repopulation space, from which they are not chased away,” assures the police headquarters.
The association Paris Animaux Zoopolis (PAZ), which affirms that “rabbits will be killed during this operation under the cover of displacement”, accuses the Police Prefecture of “playing opacity on the method of capture”.
“Capturing rabbits causes intense stress.
A certain number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially transport,” adds PAZ, who notes that the commune of Bréau hosts the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne Hunting Federation.