End Wolf Baiting in Kyrgyzstan

"Throw me to the wolves and I'll come back leading the pack."

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Target:  The Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Zhantoro Satybaldiyev

Goal: Outlaw the brutal torture and killing of wolves at hunting festivals.

A two-day event that takes place in the town of Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan called the Salborun Festival is a celebration of the country’s best and most respected hunters. In addition to talented hunters, it also draws the region’s best hunting dogs and falcons. While most of the events at the festival celebrate the hunters and animals in a humane manner, one specific event referred to as “wolf baiting” has received negative attention for its barbaric ill-treatment of animals. Ask the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan to stop the torture and killing of live wolves at these festivals.

Wolf baiting is not representative of usual hunting methods, but rather is a symbolic celebration of dominance over hunted prey. In this event, a live wolf is tied to a post while a trained hunting dog or falcon attacks and maims it to death. Hundreds of onlooking hunters watch and cheer as the creature is torn to pieces or bleeds to death. In many cases, the wolf inflicts serious damage to the attack animals, and so recent events have introduced a bit that is placed in the victim’s mouth to reduce its ability to fight back. This further terrifies the creature, and it never survives the encounter.

Because this practice is symbolic and therefore completely unnecessary in order to display the skill of hunting animals, this particular event should be banned from the festival. It is not right to torture and kill an innocent creature in such a vicious manner, and the festival can persist just as well without live wolf killings. In addition, it poses danger to hunting animals, as the wolf often overpowers them at some point during the attack and more than one animal is harmed. The only truth this practice reveals is how the human race feels so superior to animals as to treat them like mere objects instead of sentient beings. Such blatant disregard for the suffering of another living thing is cruel. This practice is a violation to animal welfare and it must be stopped.

Senseless killing of innocent wolves has desensitized the Kyrgyz hunters from the true atrocity of wolf baiting. Urge the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan to end this practice and adopt more humane methods of displaying hunting prowess.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Zhantoro Satybaldiyev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan,

Celebrating cultural history is an important tradition for Kyrgyz hunters, but it should not be permitted at the expense of animal welfare. During celebratory festivals, live wolves are tied to posts and left to be attacked by trained hunting dogs and falcons while onlookers cheer and the victimized animal suffers profusely. This barbaric practice called “wolf baiting” is not representative of hunting methods, but rather of dominance and power. Such an act is not necessary for hunters to carry out in order to celebrate their nomadic past. It is merely an atrocity.

In many neighboring areas, the wolf is even protected by law due to its endangered status. These beautiful creatures cannot be mistreated at the hands of hunters. Please place a ban on live wolf torture and ensure that Kyrgyz festival goers practice only humane methods of celebration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Wildflifenature.blogspot