An article in The Independent states that "a restaurant in Albania is serving meat with bear meat from illegal hunting." The Independent refers to an observation made by Four Paws - a global animal welfare organization based in London - whose researchers say that consuming beef can also cause disease, given the example of coronavirus. However, what makes the situation really problematic is the abuse of animals.
The article states that "Four Paws has discovered a website selling bears and other species that must be protected by law." In the group of species sold online are foxes, owls and wolves.
Among other things, it is written that the main buyers of animals are owners of hotels and restaurants, who use them to attract tourists. "Eagles, Albania's national symbol, are also sold," the article reads, which also states that hunting of these animals is prohibited, but the law is not respected.
According to the observations, monkeys and birds are sold to be kept in bars and restaurants, foxes are sold for fur, while wolves are used for grafting with dogs. The Independent also mentions the Egnis restaurant in Drilon, Pogradec. On the menu, beef, wild rabbit, roe deer, wild duck, etc. are served.
A spokesman for Albania's Environmental Protection and Protection Agency told The Independent: "What is particularly alarming about this is the fact that not only is meat sold, but it is also placed in parentheses 'in season', to give the impression that it has a hunting season for bears ?.
Despite the fact that the issue is rightly focused on serving beef, it should be noted that other wild animals are also included in the menu, where we are also dealing with a violation of the law. In Albania there is a moratorium that prohibits hunting throughout the country. (Moratorium - temporary suspension of an action, of a work or an activity, postponement for a certain time).
In a statement for Report Tv, the owner of the restaurant, Pandi Çekiçi, said:
"I'm familiar with the news. It's not true, when you want, how you want, show up at the bar, check the bar and look. It's not my menu, the bear meat is not, it's not talked about, it doesn't make a fuss. Wild animals no, I don't have any, it's been 10 years, it's been mine, only the wild duck, the wild rabbit, they were 10 years ago. [Now] it's blocked, I haven't sold a single gram since the wild animal was released "No bear meat, no vaki, absolutely. I give this with great responsibility," he said (via Shqiptarja.com).
Cekic emphasized the same thing in "Invitation to Five". During the conversation , the moderator Bieta Sulo said that during the communication with the journalists, Çekiçi told them that "she is no more", so she had it before. He said that "on the menu was the wild rabbit, the wild boar and the wild duck 10 years ago".
