The Club of Mountain Hunters is deeply saddened to announce that Bernard Lohse, who celebrated his 75th birthday in September, has died.
The former President and Honorary President of the largest European public organization of hunters – the International Council for Hunting and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), head of the French delegation of CIC and a great friend of the Mountain Hunters Club Bernard Lohse was a man of valor and honor.
Bernard was the President of CIC for 6 years, it was during his presidency that the 58th General Assembly of CIC was organized in St. Petersburg in 2011. During his time in such a high position, Bernard Lohse has done a lot for the global development of sustainable hunting practices in order to preserve wildlife and natural biotopes, as well as to support local communities and preserve hunting heritage. CIC has established new ties with environmental organizations during these 6 years. Cooperation with international veterinary organizations has been strengthened. The number of CIC member States was increased, which increased the status of this international organization. Russian was recognized as the fourth official language of the CIC, thanks to Loze's principled position.
He loved life very much, adored music and singing since childhood, loved his France and his Russia. Being a child, Bernard spent every Sunday with his Russian grandparents, thanks to whom he learned Russian. Since the 1990s, he had been in our country almost monthly, first for business, and then just for the sake of hunting. He hunted in Kamchatka three times and not only there. He loved to travel to places of interest. Bernard Lohse had done a lot for relations between our countries, became one of the creators and ideologists, as well as co-chairman of the "Assembly of the Peoples of Eurasia", a participant in the Franco-Russian dialogue, permanent ambassador of Russia to the West and tried to do everything possible in the name of peace and friendship. In 2019, Bernard Lohse was awarded the highest state award of the Russian Federation, the Order of Friendship for his services in strengthening peace and friendship between peoples.
"I love Russia and I feel at home here," Bernard Lohse once said. – Among my closest Russian friends, I should mention especially Eduard Bendersky and his team, Yuri Lozovsky, Vladimir Melnikov.”
The leadership of the CMH expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Bernard Lohse. We'll always remember this wonderful man, and a piece of his noble soul will forever remain in our hearts.
