Environmental groups in Lanzarote propose banning hunting in El Jable

Environmental groups in Lanzarote propose banning hunting in El Jable

June 10 2025 (09:01 WEST)
Updated in June 10 2025 (10:25 WEST)
Saharan corridor. Photo: Gustavo Tejera
Saharan corridor. Photo: Gustavo Tejera

The environmental groups of Lanzarote, which obtained representation in the Island Hunting Council in its last constitution through the candidacy of Ecologists in Action Lanzarote, have pointed out to the Hunting Council the accelerated loss of species as emblematic as the houbara bustard and the Saharan runner (known locally as engañas), and the urgent need to protect these species by stopping hunting in El Jable.

According to the groups, El Jable is home to the highest number of courtship territories of houbara bustard in all of the Canary Islands. And according to the census worked on by biologist Juan José Ramos, 15 of the 17 territories of the Saharan runner are located in El Jable. Therefore, they have indicated that "the conservation status of these species is directly related to the preservation of this unique space of great environmental, agricultural and cultural value".

The proposal considered that hunting activity on the island "entails considerable human and vehicle traffic through sensitive areas and off the roads in El Jable, which is incompatible with the well-being of the houbara bustard and the Saharan runner".

This type of activity scares adult birds, forcing them to take flight and, consequently, to leave eggs and chicks unprotected, with a high risk of dying from cold, overheating or becoming easy prey for hunting dogs.

The ecologists consider that "a very serious problem" in relation to hunting activity on the island is the "high density of hunting licenses", in its different varieties of shotgun, use of dogs and ferrets, per square kilometer. For this reason, they also requested "to review how many active licenses exist, their regulatory compliance and, above all, whether their volume is justified with respect to the available territory".

On the other hand, the conservation associations, through their representative, also urged the Hunting Council to comply with the obligation undertaken in the previous session of 2024 to present a report to be prepared by the biodiversity department of the Government of the Canary Islands on the compatibility of hunting with the conservation status of the protected species that live in El Jable, which did not materialize in this year's session.

Finally, according to the environmental NGOs, it was addressed in the Council that "it was missed that together with the proposal of the hunting societies, there was the one prepared by the technical services of the Cabildo, on the conditions of the hunting season that is approaching".

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