A time of hope for our wildlife
Spring is here, a time of renewal for nature and for many the season of hope, as the dark days of winter become a distant memory.
And it is hope that drives our work with animals – the feeling of optimism, backed up by our achievements, that we are making a difference to the way wildlife is treated in our countryside.
On Exmoor, the League manages wildlife reserves that provide a sanctuary for wild red deer and foxes that would otherwise be the victims of deer and fox hunts still operating in the West Country.
We are now involved in a rewilding project on one of these reserves, reintroducing the common crane and white stork, important species that were wiped out by man and missing from the landscape for hundreds of years.
These large, charismatic and beautiful birds, standing as tall as a person, will now have the chance to grow up on our wildlife havens, free from persecution.
Calls for Cheltenham Festival boycott
Elsewhere in the west of England, the League called for a boycott of the Cheltenham Festival where Animal Aid figures show horses have died every single year since the turn of the century, by being raced to their deaths.
Thousands of you backed our campaign so thank you for your support.
We predicted more horses would die and sadly two more horses lost their lives this year. But we will push on with our calls for an independent regulatory body with horse welfare as its number one priority, and replacing the ineffectual British Horse Racing Authority.
Much tighter safety measures are needed and the use of the whip banned.
We’re determined to stop horses being sacrificed for people’s entertainment and the profits of gambling companies.
In parliament
Meanwhile, as a key stakeholder for wild animal welfare, we joined other animal charities in parliament, to make a powerful joint submission to inform the development of the Government’s animal welfare strategy. Watch this space.
Tackling the brutal world of dog fighting
The League’s intelligence team has been lifting the lid on the brutal world of dog fighting, which is still sadly going on despite being banned nearly 200 years ago. If you want to find out more about it, we created a podcast you can listen to which highlights how we are tackling this barbaric criminal activity through our supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch service.
You can report wildlife crime to the League’s Animal Crimewatch service on 0300 444 1234, email crimewatch@league.org.uk or WhatsApp at 07552 788247.
You can use their new WhatsApp number on 07552 788247 to report incidents of animal cruelty.
Message them on WhatsApp
Successful fox hunt conviction
Last but not least, last month saw the successful conviction of a member of the notorious Warwickshire Hunt after the Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs captured heartbreaking footage showing the hunt chasing and killing a fox.
Fox hunting is still going on despite the ban and prosecutions are rare under the Hunting Act which needs strengthening, but this time the court case was successful.
It was not just the defendant, Benjamin Halsall who was on trial that day but so-called trail hunting, the defence used by the hunt’s lawyer, and this was found to lack any credibility.
The League is now calling for the Government to set out a timetable for when it will ban trail hunting, strengthen the Hunting Act and introduce custodial sentences to act as a deterrent for those that would break the law.
Together with you, we are going to consign the sordid blood sport of fox hunting to the history books.
