Traps

[shanagarry]

Not quite sure that the last 2 posts have anything to do with the topic of Traps - other than to suggest, to me, that it is perfectly OK to set traps on private land? Really!

Just got back now from our walk and saw that the little bird that we saw yesterday was still there in the trap - which gives rise to a more disturbing possibility - they are setting these traps for fun. Sick bastards

[James Faro]

Well, if that poor bird has been left there for days then the person/s perpetrating these cruel acts must not be nearby but reside a fair distance beyond and come every few days to pick up the spoils of their sick pursuits. It could even be kids!

[shanagarry]

It could even be kids!

I doubt it - I have never seen any kids on that piece of land.

I buried the bird yesterday and mangled the trap - then put it back where I found it - it (the trap) was still there at 4.00pm today

[James Faro]

Looking back at the previous posts it is hard to determine what the law is but your actions legal, illegal or in a grey area, has resulted in one thing: a number of animals have been prevented from suffering appalling pain and terror. So keep up the good work.

If you keep this up, the no-brains behind this 'sport' may even give up doing it this field you encounter, but probably try it elsewhere!

[shanagarry]

I believe I have seen the person responsible for placing the traps - while I don't know his name - he is a person I have seen around the village over the years. To be clear - I did not see him handle or put traps in place - but everything about his demeanour suggested to me he would be the type of person who would do that sort of thing. How do I know - I don't - but call it 'gut instinct'. I very seldom meet or see anybody on our walks on this piece of land - so seeing somebody there and without a dog gave rise to my suspicion.

I went for our usual walk at 4.00pm this afternoon and saw the guy 'hovering' as if he was looking for something, in the area where the traps are placed. He was not walking a dog, and went out of his way to avoid me. As I know the lie of the land, I collected the damaged traps and cut him off as he went off the paths and across/through bushes and gorse. I asked him in my best Portuguese "sao estes os seus" (are these yours?) and in a sheepish/knowing sort of way he said "Nao senor, nao senor" and kept going. His demeanour suggested to me that he was responsible for them.

The guy is aged about mid 50s maybe more, and can be seen around the village and is always in The Square during the Summer evenings - dancing on his own (when there's entertainment). He walks with a limp and usually wears a trilby style hat. What struck me as a result of that encounter was that he probably did eat the birds and I had deprived him of a meal. Only a few days ago I had a little defenceless dead bird in the palm of my hand - with a wire trap around its neck and now I may have just been at close quarters with its executioner - someone who is also defenceless in a very different way

[James Faro]

So what will you do now If he is the person in question and this is his source of food? At one quarter the neccessity of stop the suffering of an animal/s and in the other corner his necessity to eat!

If this individual is hovering around the main town then he is probably know to all the local business owners and he is probably given spare food by them if he is regarded as a harmless eccentric- though not that harmless it would seem by laying these traps. I doubt is his sole diet derives from that field that he seems to visit on an irregular basis.

[maccasa]

I sent a post on this last week, which seems to have disappeared?? so agin ... This subject was raised last couple of years by Silki - she received some strange & somewhat abusive replies which seemed to suggest we shouldn't get involved with "traditional portuguese practices"

I strongly supported her stance and contacted the Algarve Resident - they confirmed that the practice of small bird trapping is TOTALLY ILLEGAL - NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE and there is a special unit of the GNR which protects wildlife. They can be contacted to take action against persons doing it, however I have I do not have the tel no as I am now back in uk now - I will endeavour to get it from Silki

[ditzy]

The guy is aged about mid 50s maybe more, and can be seen around the village and is always in The Square during the Summer evenings - dancing on his own (when there's entertainment). He walks with a limp and usually wears a trilby style hat(

Sounds like Dallas, hardly a harmless eccentric! I don't know of his circumstances though

[malrc]

Interesting article here to show how widespread this practice is!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/1 ... ff00000001

[maccasa]

The GNR contact is sepna@gnr.pt and I can confirm that they have already taken action against a man caught setting traps last year near benagil.

[James Faro]

Interesting article here to show how widespread this practice is!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/1 ... ff00000001

Well that is horrific and shocking. This is animal genocide. To think that few indviduals can cause so much carnage and destruction to wildlife is sickening,

[jessi]

I am the person who mentioned the Bee Hives! Just to put the record straight,I did not mention the words "had the nerve",I simply wished to warn people they were there, for safety reasons only!

[sam]

Not quite sure that the last 2 posts have anything to do with the topic of Traps - other than to suggest, to me, that it is perfectly OK to set traps on private land? Really!

The question of possible trespass was raised - hence my post. Regarding destroying the traps - I fully support you - keep up the good work.