Sign to help keep this cruelly caught bird off the dinner table.

  • by: Andrew M
  • recipient: French Ecology Minister, Nicolas Hulot
The Ortolan Bunting is a small songbird with an apparently big taste. Every year, the bird, which can fit in the palm of your hand, has to navigate a culinary death trap as it makes its way from Europe to Africa. In France it's considered a delicacy and it is apparently so good that gourmands are willing to subject the bird to terrible cruelty just to eat it.

Year after year around 1500 poachers catch an estimated 30,000 birds to feed this lucrative market. They use nets that entangle whole flocks as they fly or apply glue to their favorite trees, in the process other birds are caught as bycatches and die needlessly. So many birds are poached annually that, since 1980, its population has declined by up to 84% in Europe.

But if you thought that was the worse part think again. Once caught, the birds are blinded in order to disrupt their feeding habits and forced to engorge themselves till they are plump enough to eat. Then they are drowned in brandy, cooked and served whole to awaiting customers.

The tradition is cruel and France knows it. Luckily French Ecology Minister, Nicolas Hulot has said he is committed to ending this shameful industry. Yet, nothing is certain. Animal lovers must make sure he follows through on his word and show our support for his efforts to stop Ortolan Bunting poaching. Please sign the petition and tell Mr. Hulot that you are behind him 100%.
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