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EU Decision Puts Turtle Doves Back in the Crosshairs

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Author Alana Theron, BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology

IMage by Ikshan Ganpathi, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

When the EU lifted its ban on hunting turtle doves, conservationists were stunned. After years of decline, the species had just begun to recover, thanks to protective measures put in place in 2021. Now, with hunting approved again in parts of Europe, the future of the gentle, iconic bird hangs in the balance.

A Struggle to Survive

Image by Tisha Mukherjee, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Turtle doves have long been symbols of peace and devotion, but their numbers tell a different story. The species has declined rapidly, with the UK seeing a 93% drop since the 1970s. Globally, they’re considered vulnerable, and in Britain, they’re on the verge of disappearing entirely.

A Brief Window of Hope

Image by 512px-Oriental_turtle_dove_by_Tisha_Mukherjee_01

In 2021, France, Spain, and Portugal introduced a temporary ban on hunting turtle doves. The results were almost immediate—populations rose by 25% in western Europe. It was a promising sign that these birds could recover if given the chance. But in central and eastern Europe, where hunting continued, the doves saw no such bounce back.

The Return of the Guns

Image by Afsarnayakkan, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Now, under new EU guidelines, hunting will resume in Spain, France, and Italy, with an approved kill quota of 132,000 birds this season. Governments say conditions for “sustainable” hunting have been met, but conservationists strongly disagree. Many fear this move will erase years of progress in just one hunting season.

Conservationists Call Foul

Image by Kandukuru Nagarjun from Bangalore, India, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

BirdLife International and other advocacy groups have pushed back, arguing the science is clear: stopping the hunt helped the doves recover. Barbara Herrero, a senior policy officer with BirdLife, said, “The turtle dove did its part. Left alone, it started to recover. But governments failed to uphold their end of the deal.”

Culture vs. Conservation

Turtle dove on branch
Turtle dove perched on a branch. Image by CreativeNature via Depositphotos.

Hunting advocates argue that their tradition is part of rural European identity and a major economic driver. In Spain alone, hunting contributes €6.5 billion to the economy and supports 200,000 jobs. Many believe that with proper management, hunting and conservation can coexist—but experts say that balance hasn’t been proven.

The Road Ahead for the Turtle Dove

Turtle Dove
Turtle Dove. Image by Andy Morffew from Itchen Abbas, Hampshire, UK, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The EU insists it will monitor the situation closely, but for turtle doves, the danger is immediate. These birds may mate for life, but their survival now depends on political decisions and public awareness. Whether they thrive or vanish will come down to whether governments—and citizens—decide to protect them or pull the trigger again.

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