Not because they have to
Lena Sanver
THE wild mallards returned to the village a few weeks ago. They are always on guard towards people, not at all like the domestic mallards that often are seen in parks and ponds. Even though the mallard is one of Europe’s most common duck there are apparently not enough of them. Large loads of two-three week old mallard chicks are released early in the summer into European waterways. They come from breeding pens where they have been incubated in egg hatching machines. No one seems to care that ducklings need their mother for warmth and protection until they are ready to fly at around 7-8 weeks. But these little ones are denied a mother, so they have to manage as best they can. Around 2 percent of the approximately 3 million ducklings released in Europe every year survive to adulthood.
The only reason for this cruelty is so that there will be more mallards for the autumn duck hunt. Countless times I have heard hunters in the village say: “I love animals and nature”. It has become a mantra. But the inhumane release of too young mallard ducklings without a mother is something none of them talk about. Not so many other people either. Is it because the mallard is such a common duck that so few people actually care about them? But next time you see cute balls of fluff bobbing in the water without a mother to keep them warm and protect them, you know why. They might look cute but remember that they are scared, confused and cold just because there are people who like to hunt them. Not because they have to, only for fun.