At the event’s opening ceremony on Saturday, at Lake Ropoly near Bőszénfa, Zoltán Kovács, Government Commissioner for the “One with Nature” World of Hunting and Nature Exhibition, which came to an end on Thursday, emphasised: “The ‘One with Nature’ World of Hunting and Nature Exhibition, and the fact that the majority of the central exhibition’s over 600 thousand visitors came from outside Budapest, is proof that hunting culture is a determining element of provincial life, and does have a future”.

“The 1500 programs of the Budapest location and several provincial locations of the OWN Expo enjoyed a higher than usual level of interest, which is a kind of demonstration of the knowledge that exists in rural Hungary with relation to hunting and sustainability”, he added.

Mr. Kovács said one of the most important tasks with relation to the Own Expo is to take children and young people by the hand and help them acquire a better understanding of hunting, and of the everyday tasks associated with game and habitat conservation.

With relation to the Transylvanian hound, the Government Commissioner pointed out that the breed is endangered, with a total population of under one thousand.

“It is a great source of pride and joy that is seems that something has begun moving with relation to the cause of the Transylvanian hound, which has suffered a great many adversities and has been categorised as a separate breed since 1966”, he noted. As an example, he mentioned that the legislative amendments introduced over the past eighteen months now enable the Transylvanian hound to take part in herding hunts.

Mr. Kovács said that in his opinion changes can be achieved through effort, discipline and dedication. He asked the breeders and owners of Transylvanian hounds to continue their work, the results of which can already be seen, and expressed his hope that in a few years’ time it may be stated that the breed “has set out from being endangered towards the direction of popularity, usefulness, and first-rate work and breeding”.

CEO of SEFAG Zrt. István Fehér added that the ancestor of the Transylvanian hound arrived in the Carpathian Basin together with the migrating Magyars, and interbred with the local dogs. The breed has existed in professional literature since the 17th century and was described as the jewel of royal and noble families, and a vital participant of their hunts. Following the second world war, they were treated as wild animals in Romania, and were exterminated, as a result of which the breed was forced to near extinction.

A few individuals were searched for and found in preparation for the 1971 International Hunting Exhibition held in Hungary, in the interests of showing Hungarian hunting dog breeds. “Today, the Transylvanian hound is the 9th ancient Hungarian dog breed, and has officially been a ‘Hungaricum’ and national treasure since 2017”.

The CEO also mentioned that the seven-member Somogy County Consortium set up under the leadership of SEFAG had become involved in this year’s “One with Nature” World of Hunting and Nature Exhibition with 40 different events.

“From among the list of dog-related programs, in addition to the world Transylvanian hound summit, the Consortium has also hosted an international bloodhound test and a European Dachshund meeting”, he noted.

President of the Hungarian Transylvanian Hound Club Tibor Pelczéder spoke about the fact that the kennels participating in the world Transylvanian hound summit, which is being organised in the spirit of maintaining traditional hunting methods, will take part in a competition, a dog show, wild boar herding, a discipline competition, and a blood trail test.

He noted that the Transylvanian hound is an extremely friendly and good-natured hunting dog that also feels very much at home with sporty families that fulfil its movement requirements.

“We would like as many dogs of this kind to be in the hands of hunters, in the interests of which we are striving to put forward proposals for legislative amendments that will enable as many hunters as possible to use the breed, in view of the fact that its survival depends on the level of popularity it is able to achieve”, he stated.

In reply to a question from reporters, Mr. Pelczéder said that the participation of the Transylvanian hound is being made difficult by “our German-style hunting culture and Hunting Act”. Because the Transylvanian hound is not a pack dog, and is also not suited for individual hunting, but rather for hunting over large areas with smaller hunting groups.

“However, hunting areas today are no longer 10-15-20 hectares in size, but have been fragmented, as a result of which this dog must get used to other types of work”, the club President stated.