Historic moment in Andalusian hunting: The Perdiz with Reclamo now recognized as a Cultural Interest

In a significant step towards recognising the rich cultural and social value of hunting in Andalusia, the Council of Government of the Andalusian Regional Government has declared the hunting of the Recluse Partridge as an Ethnological Interest Activity and a Cultural Heritage Asset (BIC).

The study, elaborated by the Department of Anthropology of the University of Seville, was based on a qualitative work developed over three years. It highlights the sociability and associativism of a collective integrated by more than 30,000 Andalusians and Andalusians.

The report, presented on November 23, 2023, demonstrates that hunting of the Recluse Partridge is not just a sport but a deep-rooted tradition and an integral part of the culture of Andalusian towns. It encompasses the oral tradition, knowledge of the environment and territory, worldviews about the surroundings and animals, craftsmanship, trades, and gastronomy related to the Recluse Partridge.

The initiative for this declaration was driven by the Andalusian Hunting Federation in 2022, and the study was carried out with the support of the Andalusian Government and the Artemisan Foundation. More than 300 Andalusian municipalities and five provincial councils provided institutional support for this declaration, making Andalusia the first autonomous community in Spain to declare the Recluse Partridge as a Cultural Heritage Asset.

The hunting of the Recluse Partridge meets all the technical requirements established by the Andalusian Regional Government to be declared as a BIC. The name of the principal investigator who led the study resulting in the listing of the hunting of the Recluse Partridge as cultural heritage in Andalusia is Juan Sánchez Rodríguez. Santiago Montero Cruzada is the principal researcher of the report.

Following the definitive declaration as a BIC, the Andalusian Hunting Federation is working to organize a grand event to celebrate and advocate for the social and cultural value of this modality. The federated hunters who have funded this project with their affiliation will be informed about this initiative.

This declaration is a testament to the commitment of the Andalusian Government to the protection and promotion of hunting's social and cultural aspects, as signed in the Andalusian Pact for Hunting in 2022. It underscores the importance of preserving and celebrating the traditional practices and cultural heritage of Andalusia.

Historic moment in Andalusian hunting: The Perdiz with Reclamo now recognized as a Cultural Interest