Danish organizations call for ban on pheasant breeding for hunting

Environmental and animal welfare organizations in Denmark, including Danmarks Naturfredningsforening, Dyrenes Beskyttelse, and Det Dyreetiske Råd, are calling for a ban on the breeding and release of pheasants intended solely for hunting. Approximately one million pheasants are released into the Danish wilderness annually before the hunting season.

Critics argue the practice is ethically and biologically unsound. Biologist Bo Håkansson of Danmarks Naturfredningsforening suggests that instead of releasing captive birds, efforts should focus on creating more natural habitats to support wild populations. Research from Aarhus University lecturer emeritus Niels Kanstrup indicates that more than half of released pheasants die from causes other than hunting within their first year.

While official reports indicate around 986,000 birds are released this year, technical reports suggest the actual number could reach 1.5 million when including private breeding and unreported releases. In response, Landbrug & Fødevarer has warned against disrupting a decade-long agreement regarding these regulations, while the Danish Hunters' Association maintains that current breeding practices are entirely justifiable.