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Rabat – Morocco, long renowned as a premier tourist destination, is now attracting attention for its hunting grounds, according to outlet Le Chasseur Francais.
In 2023, the number of hunters in Morocco reached around 70,000. Abderrahim Houmy, former head of the National Agency for Water and Forests, noted in the French report that hunting permits have surged over the past decade, rising from 740 to more than 1,400.
The French source highlights Morocco’s varied landscapes. From valleys of maquis (underbrush) and mountains to marshes and cereal fields, the country’s varied landscapes distinguish it from other destinations.
Morocco supports a mix of both sedentary and migratory game, with a particular reputation for its feathered birds such as turtle doves, woodcocks, quails, red-legged partridges, thrushes, and larks.
This avian variety is largely due to Morocco’s role as a wintering and nesting ground for many species.
Surge in hunting – a cause for concern?
Since the onset of Morocco’s pandemic lockdown in 2020, authorities have reported a troubling increase in poaching activities.
These crimes included illegal hunting outside designated hunting season, hunting using forbidden methods, nocturnal hunting, hunting in protected reserves, and hunting protected species.
In 2019, the National Society for Hunting condemned an incident in Marrakech where several Gulf nationals allegedly killed over 1,400 quails in a single day.
One of the perpetrators even recorded himself displaying the numerous quails on the ground.
According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), while hunting was once essential for human survival, it has now degenerated into a violent pastime that most hunters do not require for sustenance. Many animals suffer extended, agonizing deaths when they are wounded but not immediately killed by hunters.
In response to the increasing pressure, the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture imposed strict hunting quotas for the 2022-2023 season, limiting hunters to fifty thrushes, twenty woodcocks, fifty turtle doves, and fifty larks per day.
According to the International World Animal Protection Organization’s 2014 report, animal welfare legislation in Morocco is notably inadequate.
Although there are some provisions related to animal health, they fall short of advocating overall animal welfare.
The Criminal Code includes protections for certain animals, but these measures are designed from a property protection perspective rather than a dedicated animal welfare standpoint, leaving the country’s animal protection framework insufficient.
