AR-News: (PL/ES/UK)King's bison shoot stirs anger of conservation groups

[Animalconcerns]

They are among the world's most endangered creatures. But the wild
European bison, whose distinctively shaggy appearance featured in
prehistoric cave paintings, was last night at the centre of a diplomatic
row after the king of Spain shot one during a trip to Poland.

Conservation groups have bitterly criticised the Polish government for
allowing Juan Carlos to hunt the rare, elusive bison on a visit to Borecka
forest, one of Europe's last surviving areas of primeval woodland.
Poland's foreign minister, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, accompanied the king,
who also shot deer and pheasants, Polish television reported.

The bison is among the world's rarest animals; there are only about 1,600
remaining. Last night the Polish Society for the Protection of Animals,
the country's oldest conservation group, condemned the government's
decision to allow the bison to be shot.

"It's a total scandal," its spokesman, Wojciech Muza, told the Guardian.
"We have sent a letter to the government in protest. The only reason the
animal was shot is because Poland wants to have a good relationship with
Spain. The bison was a victim of EU politics. The laws should protect
animals from being hunted, and not allow kings of Spain to shoot them." 

full story:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/conservation/story/0,13369,1176454,00.html

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