National Geographic reports on Albania’s ban on hunting

Recently, Albania decided to ban hunting throughout the whole country for two years. The government wants to take advantage of this period in order to better protect migratory birds and other wildlife against poaching.

This landmark decision was to a considerable extent inspired by an article by bestselling author Jonathan Franzen published in National Geographic’s July 2013 issue. In spring 2012 Franzen spent two weeks on an investigative journey together with EuroNatur project director Dr. Martin Schneider-Jacoby, who passed away in August the same year, and photographer David Guttenfelder. They visited all major bird resting areas along the Eastern Adriatic Coast – from Karavasta National Park in Albania to the Neretva Delta in Croatia. Franzen talked to hunters, witnessed illegal hunting practices and discussed the background of bird hunting in the Balkans.

The story “Last song for migrating birds” impressively shows how bird hunting in the Eastern Adriatic is persistently ruining extensive conservation programmes in the birds’ breeding areas. “The article was circulated within the relevant ministries and was very well received”, Spase Shumka, president of Albanian EuroNatur partner PPNEA, said to National Geographic. “The article strongly influenced the debate on hunting in Albania.”

Read the interview with Jonathan Franzen and an article on Albania’s hunting ban on the website of National Geographic:

Interview with Jonathan Franzen

Article “Albania’s Hunting Ban: Birds and Mammals Get a Two-Year Break”

Interview with Jonathan Franzen about his experiences at the “Adriatic crime scene” (2013)