Photo Gallery Hungry Scavengers
Concerned about the mad cow disease epidemic, the EU banned the dumping of animal carcasses in 2002. The legislation neglected the needs of Europe's scavengers, though, driving many of them out of their normal habitats in the search for food. And officials in Brussels have been slow to respond to demands for amendments.
A 2002 EU regulation intended to stop the spread of BSE forbids animal carcasses from being left out for scavengers. The ban has particularly affected brown bears, which are not as capable as vultures and other scavengers of travelling large distances in search of food. Environmental activists have noted huge increases in undernourished bears and bear cubs.
Foto: DDP
Vultures have had to travel far and wide in search of food and have expanded their habitat northward. Even in northern countries, though, food is scarce due to the ban. As a result, vultures have been attacking more and more live animals.
Foto: DPA
Wolves, too, feed on carcasses and are suffering as a result of the ban. Environmentalists are now calling on Brussels to change the regulations.
Foto: DPA
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