THE SABS PICTURES TELL OF UNDENIABLE CRUELTY TO TRAPPED FOXES

                                    HUNT SABOTEURS ASSOCIATION

                                 www.huntsabs.org.uk

Here is the latest news from the HSA.

This week the hunting world has been rocked by yet another scandal after Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch and Three Counties Hunt Sabs rescued a fox from an ‘artificial earth’ in Cotswold Hunt country.

The poor vixen – who may well have had dependent cubs – was trapped in a sack and stored in a squalid underground chamber. The Cotswold’s terriermen intended to collect the disoriented, urine-soaked animal from the earth and drop her in front of hounds for the enjoyment of the hunt’s paying subscribers.

She wouldn’t have stood a chance.

This outrage comes just weeks after the Avon Vale Hunt were filmed throwing one live fox to their hounds and bolting another from an earth. And almost exactly a year ago, Somerset’s Seavington Hunt were filmed dropping yet another bagged fox in front of their hounds.

Incredibly, all four of these incidents are not only illegal under the Hunting Act 2004, they also contravene hunting regulations going back decades before the ban. The Masters of Foxhounds Association – the original regulatory body of hunting – had a Code of Conduct whose ‘Golden Rules’ stated that a fox could only be hunted in their “wild and natural state.” Under no circumstances could bagged foxes be used, nor could foxes be handled or bolted to be hunted.

Just let that sink in.

ANOTHER ONE FROM THE SABS

                          HUNT SABOTEURS

                              ASSOCIATION 

Here is the latest news from the HSA.

On Saturday 18 March 2023 Sabs from Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch and Three Counties Hunt Sabs attended the Cotswold Hunt meet at Miserden, Gloucestershire and rescued a bagged fox that the hunt had stored in an artificial earth.

Late in the day sabs approached a wood where hounds were heard in cry. Sabs entered the wood and drove the hounds away, worried that they’d killed a fox. 

They discovered an artificial earth, a network of underground pipes and chambers used by hunts to encourage foxes into an area to ensure they have animals to chase on a hunting day. 

Upon exposing one of the chambers they were horrified to discover a tied up sack that moved when sabs tried to pick it up. 

Realising the sack contained a fox they contacted a local wildlife hospital to come and rescue the captured animal. They also contacted Gloucestershire police to report the crime. The fox was examined – and discovered to be a female who may have had dependent cubs – and then released.

After the fox was safely released sabs stayed to monitor the area as the hunt terriermen were still near by. At the farm where the hunt had met, sabs film one of the terriermen saying to another “Get the sack, it’s evidence and the fox was kept at your place”. Two terrier men on a quad then approach the wood in a bid to retrieve the sack containing the fox but sabs were able to leave the scene and take this vital evidence with them.

This is the response from Chris Packham

“A vixen with cubs somewhere, trapped and tied up in a sack, buried in a purpose built torture chamber . . . whenever we think we’ve seen the worst of fox hunting’s sickening savagery it gets worse. It’s time these dog shooting, hound whipping, badger baiting, horse kicking criminal monsters were shut down forever. Please help us end hunting now.”

Following the Avon Vale being caught digging out foxes the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), the governing body for hunting, advised all its members, of which the Cotswold Hunt is one, that terrier work should be suspended pending a review. This video clearly evidences that not only are hunts ignoring this ban but they are also breaking the law by keeping captive foxes to be chased and killed.

Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch stated: 

We were shocked and sickened by what we found whilst out sabbing the Cotswold Hunt 18th March 2023. The small, terrified vixen had been tied up in a bag, stuffed into a chamber under the ground called an Artificial Earth awaiting her cruel fate.

Hounds were marking the ground where she was buried and we believe she would have been released and hunted by the blood thirsty psychopaths out with the hunt, if we hadn’t been there. This poor fox would be disorientated away from her territory and could possibly have cubs dependent on her elsewhere. We hope this wildlife crime is taken seriously by Gloucestershire police and those responsible for her suffering get the punishment they deserve.”

Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: The BHSA attempted to assert their authority over their member hunts by banning the Avon Vale. They must now do the same to the Cotswold Hunt if they don’t wish to appear toothless to the British public. Fox Hunting has been illegal for over 18 years yet hunts are still actively using artificial earths and keeping live foxes to be chased and killed. 

These organised criminal gangs have shown time and again that they are unwilling and unable to obey the law and so clearly the only option is the disbanding of all hunts, starting with the complete abolition of terrier work.”All images: Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch.

RUNNING HARE ON VIDEO

                                   HUNT SABOTEURS

                                       ASSOCIATION 

                                  www.huntsabs.org.uk

Here is the latest news from the HSA.

Damning footage taken today by Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs shows the RAC Beagles blatantly hunting a hare near Sherston, Wiltshire.

The hunt was found by chance as a member of the group spotted the student hare-killing group meeting at Widley’s Farm whilst on a personal errand. Unequipped for normal sabotage, the quick-thinking sab was able to record the chase, with the hounds at this point coursing the hare only a few metres in front.

With sabs from Three Counties and Salisbury Plain groups nearby, the hunt was soon forced to pack up, potentially saving the lives of many other hares in the area.

The RAC Beagles are part of the Cirencester-based Royal Agricultural University, and are formed of wildlife abusing students. That a university should so openly endorse hare hunting – which has been illegal for 18 years – is utterly shameful.

The RAC Beagles regularly commit such wildlife crime, for instance in 2013 then-huntswoman of the pack, Libby Gilbert, even fled to the USA to avoid prosecution under Hunting Act following a court summons. When sabs have hit this hunt throughout the years since the Act, hare hunting has been witnessed every single time.

In a recent horrifying incident, RAU students even made headlines after filming themselves parading a dead fox strapped to the front of a car.

The post Hare Illegally Hunted by University Hunting Group appeared first on Hunt Saboteurs Association.

THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE HUNT SABS

 Here is the latest news from the HSA.

With the fox and hare hunting season now coming to an end, hunt sabs are turning their attention to the summer bloodsport: mink & otter hunting.

Taking place on and around streams, rivers and fishing lakes, the season runs from approximately now until October.

Hunting occurs on foot, with a huntsman, a pack of hounds and terriermen equipped with terriers, spades and poles to dislodge a hunted animal that takes refuge up a tree, in a drain or river bank. There are also hunt supporters, often the usual fox and hare hunting fanatics, who will follow along to watch.

Mink hunting has its origins in otter hunting, a bloodsport which saw its height of popularity in Victorian and Edwardian Britain, made infamous by Henry Williamson’s 1927 novel, ‘Tarka the Otter.’

By the late 1970s, the otter population had suffered a huge crash due to pesticide use and helped along by hunting. In 1978, with a growing tide of public support for protection for the otter, the species was given protected status and hunting was effectively banned.

While some packs folded, others claimed that they would switch to hunting American mink, a non-native species that had become well established on Britain’s waterways since escaping from ramshackle fur farms in the 1930s and 40s.

And with the otter population once again growing, some of these packs have reverted to hunting them once again. In 2019, hunt sabs filmed the Culmstock Hunt in Devon chasing an otter.

Fast forward to 2023 and the number of these packs has dwindled to around a dozen. And despite their secretive nature, sabs have had great success against these hunts in recent years, which in turn has driven them even further underground!

And that’s why we need you, our eyes and ears in the countryside, to help us locate them this summer.

If you have information on a mink/otter hunt, or see a pack when you’re out and about, then let hunt sabs know.

Call the confidential Hunt Sab tip-off line on 07443148426

MORE NEWS FROM LEGAL JUSTICE.

Good morning! We have lots to tell you and there's a strong stream of future news in the pipeline too. Here we tell you about a pathetic response from Natural England on issues in an SSSI/SAC/NNR on the edge of Dartmoor, give you a quick update on what you are finding out about SSSIs near you, make some serious and less serious points about Woodcock, thank a couple of young people for their help, and we point you in the direction of our first guest blog which describes the role of the forensics fund we established to speed up investigations into crimes against raptors.   Dartmoor gamebirds: we've had a response to our letter to Natural England on the condition of Dendles Wood SSSI in Devon and the implementation of the new licensing regime on gamebirds releases (which was brought in following our legal challenge). It paints a disturbing picture of inaction across the board. and of the statutory sector as aimless and toothless.   We suspect that Defra will be thrilled to see that Natural England finger their home department, yes, Defra, as having the responsibility for enforcement of relevant licences. We've written back to Natural England and also we'll ask Defra whether they agree that it's their job to enforce these regulations. For more details including Natural England's full response click here.   SSSIs: Natural England confirmed to us that they really haven't assessed the condition of the four Dendles Wood SSSI units since 2009-11 (even though they own one of them!). That's a long time ago. But you are getting similar responses from Natural England if you have written to them about your own local SSSIs.  You are shocked. We are shocked about the dire condition of state nature conservation but not terribly surprised. We are definitely interested in seeing responses that you get on this subject - for once, they aren't all exactly the same!  Thank you!   Thank you Benji: Benji Fallow is a talented young man and has been selling some of his artwork. He is sending us a £100 donation as a result - click here. Thank you Benji!   Woodcock shooting season: the debate is over but the battle goes on. We've written two blogs - really they are both about the fact that MPs often don't know what they are talking about! This one is about Woodcock vision and is mostly for fun - but it has a lovely piece of artwork from Ronan Jackson aged 11 - click here - and the other is more serious and lays out the reasons why anyone would be foolish to believe that voluntary restraint has done the job - click here.   Raptor Forensics Fund: Guy Shorrock (ex-RSPB) writes about how the fund established by Wild Justice and others to make forensic investigations into wildlife crimes has helped secure convictions - click here.The fund has achieved much in a short time (see also here) and will soon need topping up. Please consider making a donation to make that possible (see below, next paragraph).         If you like what we do and would like to make a general donation which will be used across our range of work, then please consider donating through PayPal, bank transfer or a cheque in the post - see details here. Thank you for all your donations.   That's it for now. We couldn't do any of this without you.       Thank you,   Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).     This is the 140th Wild Justice newsletter.   This email was sent to you because you subscribed to it through the Wild Justice website or through an e-action or a petition where you ticked a box.  Thank you. We will only use your personal details to send you the Wild Justice newsletter. We will not give or sell your details to anyone else.  You can unsubscribe at any time: there is an unsubscribe button at the foot of this email or you can reply to this email and ask us to remove you from the list (the former will happen immediately, the latter might take a few days).

 

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SHAFTESBURY ESATE, DORSET AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR

A gamekeeper Paul Allen

Fascinating new details emerge about investigation into raptor persecution on Shaftesbury Estate in Dorset

Earlier this year, criminal gamekeeper Paul Allen was sentenced for multiple wildlife, poisons and firearms offences committed on the Shaftesbury Estate in Dorset in 2021 (see here). He first came to the attention of the police after a member of the public discovered a dead red kite on the estate in November 2020. Tests revealed […]

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Note from me. Please read the whole of this blog and note the seperate site of Guy Shorrock.

ANOTHER HARRIER IS MORE THAN MISSING ON A GROUSE MOOR

Hen harrier goes ‘missing’ from a Peak District grouse moor – police confirm his satellite tag had been deliberately cut off

RaptorPersecutionUK Mar 17 Press release from RSPB (16th March 2023) MISSING HEN HARRIER HAD SATELLITE TAG CUT OFF *Anu, a satellite tagged Hen Harrier, vanished after roosting near Upper Midhope in the Peak District National Park – on land managed for driven grouse shooting. *RSPB Investigations Officers located the bird’s tag three days later and police forensics found […] Read more of this post ON RAPTORPERSECUTIONUK

STOP THE FOXHUNTERS ON MOD LAND - PETITION

 

Stop issuing \'trail hunting\' licences on MoD land

For attention of Defence Infrastructure Organisation

Following the leaked Hunting Office webinars which proved that \'trail hunting\' is nothing more than a smokescreen for illegal fox hunting most major landowners refuse to allow hunts on their land.

The Ministry of Defence however is standing alone in supporting illegal fox hunting on the land they manage, including Salisbury Plain one of Europe\'s most important grasslands and covered by multiple SSSis and SACs.

Monitors and sab groups routinely witness hunts breaking the law by hunting illegally on MoD land. There is supporting video evidence widely available. The vast majority of the public (who fund the MoD through taxation) do not support hunting and want to see it permanently banned.

I am calling on you now to withdraw support from hunts and ensure that so-called \'trail hunting\' licences are no longer given to hunts wishing to chase and kill wildlife on MoD land.

THE IMPARTIALITY OF THE BBC?

 Impartiality. Or on the opposite side of the that word who decides what is and what isn’t impartial or partial?

Breaking news as we are told Football Focus will not be on our screens to go with MOTD that will go out without the presenter or the usual pundits. Wow. Solidarity between those that present and comment upon our national support is emphatic. 

Mr Lineker knows the game and has been part of the show since 1999. That’s some stint and he is wealthier as a result. 

I can comment upon Alan Shearer constantly ‘banging-on’ about VAR and which can remove most of human error and Lineker’s reference to anything about  the 1930’s in Germany. It may be relevant the words that he chose to use but with today’s media and newscover there will be many that will object to any reference the Holocaust. Hence the media furore and BBC management deciding to remove a flagship show. There is going to be more to follow and what will be the fallout?

So, what will happen to free speech? It seems its okay for some, for those who can say nay will do so. Driven, maybe by their power and their political views to object and to impose sanctions.

We are in a period of change with popular presenters leaving to go elsewhere. Ken Bruce for one. 

BBC produces a plethora of excellent programmes but when it comes to. The News, it is so bland. GNNews is more upfront and maybe I will switch back to Sky. BBC - you have shot your selves in the foot.

At a time of political unrest with the unions, issues with our National Health Service and the ‘War in Ukraine’ and Wildlife Crime, I would suggest there should be more about the vital issues. So get in with it. Sort it and lets have some good reporting. 

Take the politics out (unlikely) and let free speech, rule Okay, but bearing in mind the caveat that everything that is said must be with responsibility.