Controversy Surrounds the Culling of Wandering Bull in Gračac

The news in Croatian

1. eutanazirati
   Usmrtiti životinju ili osobu na bezbolan način iz sažaljenja ili zbog bolesti. ↩︎
2. prijetnja  (f.)
   Izražena namjera nanošenja štete ili nasilja. ↩︎
3. kontroverza  (f.)
   Javna rasprava ili nesuglasica oko važnog pitanja. ↩︎
4. organizacija  (f.)
   Grupa ljudi koja djeluje zajedno za određeni cilj. ↩︎
5. kritizirati
   Izreći ili napisati nepohvalne primjedbe o nekome ili nečemu. ↩︎
6. incident  (m.)
   Neplanirani događaj koji izaziva probleme ili opasnosti. ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: Why was the bull Miško euthanized in Gračac?

Question 2: Who criticized the authorities for their decision about Miško?

Vocabulary

Croatian	English
eutanazirati	euthanize
prijetnja  (f.)	threat
kontroverza  (f.)	controversy
organizacija  (f.)	organisation
kritizirati	criticise
incident  (m.)	incident

Read the full story

The recent culling of a bull named Miško in the Croatian town of Gračac has sparked significant controversy, drawing responses from animal rights groups and local residents alike. For the past nine months, Miško had roamed the area unsupervised, leading to damage of property and raising concerns among locals.

According to official sources, the decision to euthanise the bull was made jointly by the Veterinary Inspection and the police. They cited the bull’s actions as a danger to human safety, claiming that Miško was causing significant disturbances by entering private properties and destroying crops. The Veterinary Inspection has also announced a misdemeanour proceeding against Miško’s owner for neglecting the animal.

Animal rights organisation ‘Prijatelji životinja’ (Friends of Animals) strongly condemned the action, describing it as “illegal and shameful”. They argue that the bull’s behaviour was a result of neglect by its owner, who failed to keep Miško under control. Snježana Klopotan Kačavenda, a coordinator from the organisation, criticised the slow response of the authorities, saying that had Miško been a dog, he would have been rescued and taken to a shelter.

Local residents share mixed feelings about the event. Although many were relieved that the perceived threat was removed, they expressed shock at the ultimate decision to euthanise the animal. “We didn’t want Miško to be killed; we just wanted help,” stated a resident, reflecting a sentiment of disbelief and sadness.

In a further twist to the story, Miško had recently been sold to a new owner, Stanko Ogar. Ogar claimed he was in the process of organising transport for the bull but was unable to complete the arrangements before the authorities intervened. He lamented the decision to proceed with the culling despite his intentions to take care of Miško.

The incident has also brought to light issues surrounding governmental agricultural subsidies. According to ‘Prijatelji životinja’, some farmers neglect their animals despite receiving government support. The organisation argues that the Ministry of Agriculture should ensure stricter oversight and penalties for such negligence, rather than resorting to euthanising animals.

This complex situation highlights underlying issues in animal welfare oversight and raises questions about the responsibilities of pet and livestock owners in Croatia. As authorities continue to investigate the incident, the case of Miško remains a poignant reminder of the challenges in balancing public safety with animal rights.

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