OAP poachers appeal bird fine

A group of 13 over-70s poachers from Landes have lost an appeal in Pau against fines for hunting protected ortolan buntings and are to take the case to the Cour de Cassation, the highest appeal court.

Their lawyer attacked ‘political and judicial hypocrisy’ that saw the men condemned for traditional hunting which, although banned since 1979, had long been tolerated with no charges before 2015 and an increase in wildlife campaigns.