THE HUNT SABOTEURS

 

View this email in your browser Hi,  12th August: The Culmination Of A Year Of Killing – Part 2 In his second article, moorland campaigner and author Bob Berzins takes a detailed look at the hideous array of traps that litter our upland environments.  Animal Welfare - Whose laws are they? Grouse moors aim to kill every animal or bird that might harm a Grouse – mass killing year-round.  Defra tell us: “The UK is a world leader on animal welfare” but if we look at what happens to animals and birds on Grouse shooting moors, a more accurate description might be: The UK is a world leader in making sure Grouse Moors don’t get prosecuted.  Badger struggling to get free from a snare – a loop of wire around the neck The Labour Government promises to ban snares (which were recently banned in Scotland and Wales). A ban is long overdue in England to save all animals from these cruel, indiscriminate traps. Badgers are protected but gamekeepers aren’t prosecuted because the law must prove snaring was intentional and, of course, the snares were supposedly set for foxes. Time these traps were gone.  Spring Traps These traps supposedly kill small mammals instantly and humanely. The UK was obliged to comply with the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) which concerns animals killed for their fur. The only such species in the UK is Stoat whose fur goes white in winter and is then called Ermine. You’ll have seen a lot of Ermine collars in the House of Lords and the Royal Coronation. Until the AIHTS standards were implemented a few years ago small, cheap Fenn traps were used everywhere but these failed “humaneness testing” on Stoats. So, more expensive Tully traps and DOC traps were introduced. Stoat killed in Tully trap. Humaneness testing is a grim subject to investigate for anyone who cares because animals were killed in labs. I’ve seen evidence of animal suffering in these new traps so I asked to take a look at the data which showed a common “failure” rate of 1 or so in a sample size of 10. Failure here means the animals suffered a prolonged, painful death. And the AIHTS standards are that animals should lose consciousness in 45 seconds so not the instant “humane” death claimed. Defra calls these failures “foul strikes” but claims they’re not a problem for animal suffering because the Animal Welfare Act 2006 prevents that and gamekeepers would prevent prolonged suffering. The reality is these traps are set in remote areas and there is no legal requirement to check them. So animals suffer. Time these traps were gone. Defra did the bare minimum in implementing higher welfare standards and didn’t check Fenn traps on other species. So it’s still legal to kill Grey Squirrels using Fenn traps such as this one that found its way into the middle of a Grouse Moor: Grey Squirrels are generally bigger than Stoats. There is no way this can ever be called humane yet it’s legal according to our world-leading animal welfare standards. Time these traps were gone.  Larsen Traps These are small wire cages with several compartments. In the photo below the Crow on the right is a “Call Bird” or “Decoy” – trapped previously, usually in the second trap on the right known as a Larsen’s mate or Clam Trap where the perch collapses, and the sides clam shut. These decoy birds are kept in the cage for months to attract other Crows who are territorial and investigate, becoming trapped in a small compartment without food or water. The capture bird is then killed the next day.  The Government recommends “You should remove birds from the trap and dispatch using a humane method. Humane methods include a sharp blow to the back of the head using a suitable stick or dedicated priest or equivalent. As far as is practicable, avoid the public seeing the dispatch.”  So our world leading welfare standards tell us Crows should be beaten to death using a stick – an act so gruesome that the public would be horrified? Crows are highly intelligent and it’s cruel beyond words to confine them to a tiny space for months. How can this be compatible with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which prohibits “Unnecessary suffering?” Time these traps were gone.   Conclusion Tens of thousands of animals and birds suffer and are killed every year in these traps on Grouse Shooting Moors in addition to the thousands of Grouse shot from 12th August. Yet it seems our new Government is looking to call this industry “sustainable”. Snares need to be banned as promised and these other traps need to be banned as well. It’s deceitful to claim high welfare standards and the current laws we have protect trap operators, leaving it virtually impossible to gather evidence of the cruelty of this industry. Get involved! Find out how you can be part of our campaign to  strengthen the Hunting Act Take Action Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Copyright (C) 2024 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe