Nine local and national animal protection associations wrote an open letter to Grégory Doucet, environmentalist mayor of Lyon, accusing him of having authorized “medieval methods” (i.e. archery) to get rid of 17 coypus in the city.
The open letter is notably co-signed by the SPA of Lyon and the South-East, the national confederation for the defense of animals, the Hirondelle Care center for wild animals, the association for animal dignity, Ron’Rhône, the assistance from friends of cats and pigeons in the cities as well as the Cercle de Pan or the Brigitte Bardot foundation.
It condemns the archery slaughter of 17 nutria on the Ouagadougou lake in the Confluence district (Lyon 2nd) on March 19, 2022.
The nutria, what is this animal?
It is a rodent belonging to the family of “Echimiyidae” or “spiny rats”. The nutria is a semi-aquatic mammal native to South America. It was notably imported into Europe in the 19th century for the exploitation of its cheap fur. The European Union listed the nutria as an invasive alien species in 2016, the mammal degrading the banks, weakening the foundations of hydraulic structures, causing damage to crops, threatening many plant species, destroying bird nests aquatic and can transmit diseases such as liver fluke or leptospirosis.
In the letter co-signed by the animal defense associations, they are surprised by what they consider to be a contradictory position of the town hall:
“Shooting coypu with a bow in the middle of town is a medieval method and we don’t understand how a town hall that claims to hold strong values concerning ecology and animal protection (as you did by banning foie gras and the salmon of the official meals) can endorse such a process of killing. »
“The coypu of Lyon were very close to the man”
We can see in this video from the youtube channel of “Chasseurs de France TV” a session of nutria slaughter with a bow – a process that seems quite common in cities. This makes it possible in particular not to use a firearm in an urbanized area, which would soon have worried the population.
The use of bows and arrows seems to overwhelm the associations that co-signed the open letter. These are mostly anti-speciesist or animalist: they defend the idea that granting different treatments to each species (including humans) is unacceptable.
They specify:
“The animals that were slaughtered were very close to humans. They came to eat from the hands of the people of Lyon and alternative methods of regulation that were just as effective and without animal suffering could have been considered if your services had really taken the trouble and the time to get information and get closer to animal protection associations. »
“In Lyon, there was only one coypu in April 2021, there were between 15 and 20 in February 2022”
The associations also recall the statements of Nicolas Husson, deputy mayor delegate for biodiversity, nature in the city and animal protection, which he had made to Rue89Lyon during the summer of 2021 regarding the management of rats and pigeons. in the city :
“When we see the answers provided by Mr. Husson to journalists, there is no doubt that the time spent looking for more ethical solutions was visibly very limited. If all animals capable of transmitting diseases to humans were to be eradicated, what would become of the biodiversity that is so dear to you? »
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In Lyon, 17 coypu were killed with an arc in Confluence Park. A pexel photo by Antonio Friedemann
” data-medium-file=”https://www.rue89lyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A-Lyon-17-ragondins-ont-ete-abattus-a-larc-dans-le- parc-Confluence-Une-photo-pexels-par-Antonio-Friedemann-1-180×120.jpg” data-large-file=”https://www.rue89lyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A -Lyon-17-coypus-have-been-shot-at-larc-in-the-parc-Confluence-A-photo-pexels-by-Antonio-Friedemann-1-630×420.jpg” loading=”lazy” width= “630” height=”420″ alt=”In Lyon, 17 coypu were shot down with a bow in Confluence Park. A pexels photo by Antonio Friedemann” class=”wp-image-179248″ srcset=”https://www.rue89lyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A-Lyon-17-ragondins-ont-ete -abattus-a-larc-dans-le-parc-Confluence-Une-photo-pexels-par-Antonio-Friedemann-1-630×420.jpg 630w, https://www.rue89lyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/ 2022/04/In-Lyon-17-coypus-have-been-shot-down-at-larc-dans-le-parc-Confluence-A-photo-pexels-by-Antonio-Friedemann-1-180×120.jpg 180w, https ://www.rue89lyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A-Lyon-17-ragondins-ont-ete-abattus-a-larc-dans-le-parc-Confluence-Une-photo-pexels -by-Antonio-Friedemann-1-768×512.jpg 768w, https://www.rue89lyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A-Lyon-17-ragondins-ont-ete-abattus-a- the arc-in-the-park-Confluence-A-photo-pexels-by-Antonio-Friedemann-1-1536×1024.jpg 1536w, https://www.rue89lyon.fr/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/A -Lyon-17-coypus-have-been-shot-at-the-arc-in-the-parc-Confluence-A-photo-pexels-by-Antonio-Friedemann-1.jpg 1920w” sizes=”(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630 px”/>
The City of Lyon is trying to appease the controversy:
“The City of Lyon fully understands the emotion aroused by this action and wishes to be able to quickly find solutions to limit the multiplication of these rodents. »
It highlights the health emergency represented by the multiplication of rodents:
“In Lyon, while we counted only one nutria in April 2021 in the basins of Ouagadougou at Confluence, there were between 15 and 20 in February 2022, with new arrivals and a very high reproduction rate. Unfortunately, its impact is very negative on ecosystems and biodiversity. […] A coypu colony also represents a health risk for shoreline users. »
And promises to initiate a reflection on how to manage these introductory species:
“We want to promote management of wild and liminal animals that respects animal welfare, which the methods currently used do not allow. A work that we wish to carry out with the associations and the prefect. »
