A hunter faces charges after mistakenly shooting two protected bison on a military training ground in Poland.
Prosecutor Files Charges Against Hunter
On Wednesday, January 28, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Szczecin-Niebuszewo filed an indictment with the District Court in Drawsko Pomorski against Aleksander W. The 68-year-old is suspected of unintentionally shooting two female bison. The investigators emphasized that killing animals of a protected species constituted significant environmental damage.
Military Training Ground Incident
The incident occurred on October 11, 2022, on the territory of the Combat Training Center in Drawsko Pomorski (West Pomeranian Voivodeship). The prosecutor established that Aleksander W. during the hunt fired several shots at a group of animals, claiming he mistook them for a herd of wild boars. When he realized he had shot a bison, he reported this by phone to a forest ranger. The next day, the carcass of another female was found. The killed animals were 6 and 13 years old.
Facing Up to Two Years in Prison
During the investigation, a series of expert opinions were obtained, which stated that each illegal killing of a bison constitutes significant damage. Aleksander W. admitted to the act and provided explanations. The man had not been previously convicted and faces up to two years in prison.
