Placement of gin traps endangers population of hares in Moldova

Members of the Association of Hunters and Fishermen of Moldova every season remove thousands of gin traps laid with the aim of hunting hares, the Association’s head Oleg Ciocoi stated for Info-Prim Neo. The placement of traps is considered poaching and is punished with a fine of up to 2,000 lei. “The laying of gin traps is illegal. The hunters don’t do so. It is the poachers who do it. We take away thousands of traps in December and January. It is hard to find them and it is even harder to identify those who place them. Those who are caught with traps or with hares are fined,” said Oleg Ciocoi. Most of the gin traps are laid in winter, after it snows. The poachers see the tracks of hares in the snow and place the traps in vineyards and orchards, where the animals look for food. Oleg Ciocoi said the population of hares in Moldova is in danger. The measures taken to increase their population do not produce results. The quick breeding of foxes and poaching lead to a continuous decline in the number of hares. According to Oleg Ciocoi, there are 80,000-90,000 hares in Moldova at present. Five years ago the hares totaled over 120,000. The hare hunting season opened on December 2 and will close in the middle of January. A person can hunt only one hare a day.