A soldier and a hunter together tortured a badger to death in a barracks in Salzburg. Now even Secretary of Defense Klaudia Tanner has addressed the matter. Because: A member of parliament from the Greens asked the politician 15 questions.
Pure horror, was the reaction to the “Krone” reports about the suspicion of animal abuse in the St. Johanner Krobatinkaserne. The storm of indignation has now reached parliament and the ministry.
Seven shots and a painful death
As a reminder, in the summer of 2022, a soldier and a hunter shot seven times at an unharmed badger that had fallen into a pit. But the men failed to hit the target properly and the animal suffered for hours. The non-commissioned officer involved killed the badger the next day with an iron bar.
Army members reported the case of the “Krone”. The police began to investigate. The Public Prosecution Service has filed a report. The two men confessed to their crimes in court and got away with a diversionary tactic. In this particular case, this means that if the duo works 160 hours in the field of “animal care”, the court will refrain from further prosecution.
Greens turned Causa into a political issue
Green MP David Stögmüller turned the issue into a political one. He asked Defense Secretary Klaudia Tanner a 15-question parliamentary question, which she has since answered. When asked if there was a protocol for wild animals on the barracks grounds and if killing harmless animals was common, the answer was: “No, there is no known protocol on this.” Of course it is not customary to kill animals.”
Regarding the introduction of a weapon into the barracks by a civilian, the minister said: “The introduction of private firearms into military property is governed by a decree and the service regulations. A relevant entry permit has not been obtained in this case, in violation of the regulations.”
The Green MP also wanted to know whether the lieutenant involved had to undergo a psychological test after the incident. It was said that a psychological examination of the petty officer was not necessary. He was aware of his misconduct and had shown co-operation. The military believes that “a recurrence of this misconduct can be ruled out with a high degree of probability”.
The army wants to train better in the future
The ministry drew “immediate” consequences on the training level of the incident. The correct behavior in such situations is included in training, refresher courses and safety instructions.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
