The law should be enacted

PENALTIES for poachers are not at all intimidating. According to recent news, a poacher who murdered two flamingoes and one common shelduck was given an administrative fine of TRY 13,000. Are there any other sentences for them? Is this a deterrent at all? I M.Y.

The sentence and the administrative fine that the authorities give in Turkey to poachers and those who don’t abide by the rules of the Land Hunting Law are not acceptable. Authorities have rarely given a prison sentence under this law. Unfortunately, this law does not recognize game animals as living creations but see them

as money-making objects. That’s why the administrative fines are always based on “damage to property ” and “acquiring illegal income”. For example, the first article of the law states that hunting resources should be put to good use to benefit the national economy. According to this statement, killing living creatures is not important, but money is. Again, article 15 suggests that the Ministry determines the species, sex, and amount of animals, hunting charges, and other payments for foreign hunters. This means you can come here from all around the world, kill innocent creatures, make your payment, and leave.