Wildlife news

Imagine you were a criminal. In what world would the government allow a thief to change the law so they could carry on breaking into houses without repercussions. Well, that’s what is likely to happen in the wildlife crime sector.

The government proposals in the recent “Protecting Wild Birds” consultation were shocking. So shocking that they actually proposed to continue hunting birds on the Red and Amber List of Conservation Concern. It’s not surprising, therefore, that the consultation mentioned voluntary shooting moratoriums in glowing terms.

It’s no surprise that people are unhappy about the government’s proposals to carry on hunting Red and Amber Listed birds. Ironically, these proposals appeared in a recent public consultation called Protecting Wild Birds.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) recently surveyed opinions on proposed changes to Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 using a consultation called “Protecting Wild Birds". But, its contents were nothing short of disturbing.

The UK government’s Bovine TB Partnership Steering Group has published a report called "Bovine TB Control Strategy for England."  The report proposes a strategy with the aim of officially eradicating Bovine TB in England by 2038. 

Wildlife criminals don’t care about the lives they exploit.  They target the most vulnerable for entertainment, for profit, or to protect their profits.  Knowing that law enforcement remains disproportionately weak in this area can make this type of crime an easy target. For that reason, we believe it needs our attention.  So what might wildlife crime look like, and how should you respond?

There’s an ‘End Bird Netting’ campaign sweeping the wildlife rights sector at the moment, and rightly so. Netting is used to keep birds away from buildings and structures.  In theory, this is a non-lethal solution to avoid human-animal conflict.  The conflict arises because people don’t want the fallout from bird poop.  Whether that's fielding complaints or clearing it up.

In the twenty years since hunting wild mammals with hounds was outlawed, hunts have continued to proceed.

Verify Humanity is proud to be serving on an advisory board that will propose legislation to deliver a real ban on hunting. 

Fantastic news! The Animal Welfare Committee's (AWC) Report on alternatives to male chick culling has been released. The AWC is in favour of banning the practice, even stating that 

“The lives of all chicks and turkey poults have intrinsic value”.

Thanks to Verify Humanity's collaboration with Catholic Concern for Animals, on 21st September Baroness Hayman asked 3 questions in the House of Lords about bile bears and the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam, including specific references to the Nghe An province.