Tag : wild animals

17 Nov 2020

Bureau rejects Scottish Wildcat Haven Bern Convention Complaint

By Sophie Mills, Trainee Solicitor The Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris) is one of the few native predators left in Scotland. With only 35 recorded in northern Scotland in recent years, they are at risk of genetic extinction. Three main factors have contributed to this: (1) hunting for sport; (2) loss and fragmentation of their habitat; and (3) hybridisation and associated disease. In 1988, the Scottish wildcat gained legal protection under schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, […]

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23 Jul 2020

Changes in Wuhan: A Temporary Reprieve for the Wildlife of China

By Denise Ho, student at Durham University Following the outbreak of Covid-19, regulations in China have attracted a great deal of attention. The main piece of legislation governing China’s use of its environment is called The Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife (1988). This act expressly states its aim of protecting species that are rare or near extinction, and it pledges to use natural resources rationally. Also, the act highlights a need for China […]

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10 Jul 2020

Hen Harrier Brood Management in England

By Luke Steele, Masters student at the University of Bradford, Managing Director and Spokesperson of Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors At first glance, the Hen Harrier Recovery Plan (DEFRA, 2016) looks positive: a protection scheme for at-risk hen harriers that looks to give one of England’s rarest birds of prey a renewed foothold in the uplands. However, this brood management project may do more harm than good, even though Natural England, the government’s habitats regulator, has been clear that […]

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17 Jun 2020

The Role of Beavers in UK Ecosystems

by Sophie Lunn The Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber), formerly a native inhabitant of Britain, became locally extinct in the 16th century due to anthropogenic persecution and the classification of their species as vermin. Some studies show bounties placed on the head of the beaver well after this time, demonstrating perhaps a distaste towards the species. Since then, much scientific evidence has shown the necessary role the beaver plays in our ecosystem, showing them as ecosystem engineers for their great impact in natural flood management. […]

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15 Jun 2020

From Victorians to the Modern Day: The Truth About UK Tiger Kings

by Emma Hinds Like many other people in lockdown, I have turned to Netflix for solace. One of the shows dominating public conversation lately is Tiger King. With murder, mayhem, and madness, it’s the ultimate binge show, but alongside meme-worthy content it also provides a horrifying insight into the wild cats trade in America. As a UK citizen, I watched this show with my jaw on the floor, shouting out “This would never happen here!” At least, that was what […]

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08 Jun 2020

Judicial Review of UK Oil Law and the Danger to Seahorses

By Erin Lanza During the early part of 2020, environmental and animal advocates turned their attention toward the devastating losses of wildlife in Australia. In a vastly different habitat, irresponsible human activity threatens the lives of seahorses. These animals now face a risk of extinction due to water pollution in coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and sea-grass beds in coastal regions. Indeed, Save Our Seahorses reports that, without vastly improved legal protection, seahorses may become extinct within 20-30 years. Unlike the […]

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29 May 2020

Golden Eagles: A Persecuted Species

By Daniel Ball, solicitor Somewhere in the bleak and unforgiving Scottish Highlands, golden eagles are persecuted for so-called ‘sport’. Grouse shooting is the hunting of red grouse between August and December each year. Large areas of land were devoted to grouse shooting by the early 1880s, when driven shooting (using beaters to drive the grouse towards waiting guns) became fashionable. Because gamekeepers did not want their grouse stock affected, they controlled predators. The legal control of predators such as foxes, […]

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18 May 2020

The effect of Covid-19 on Animal Shelters in Thailand

By Alice Kennedy, trainee solicitor Lanta Animal Welfare In the summer of 2014, I volunteered at Lanta Animal Welfare (LAW) in Koh Lanta, an island in Thailand’s Krabi Province. The animal shelter and veterinary practice needed people to live on site and assist with the care of, at the time, 40 cats and a further 30 dogs. Volunteers worked six-hour shifts, six days a week. Our role included walking the dogs, preparing food, cleaning cages, assisting the vet staff […]

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06 May 2020

Covid-19 & Wildlife: An Opportunity to Reflect & Change?

By Sophie Lunn, student at Nottingham Trent University Covid-19, the human illness caused by the novel virus SARS-COV-2, has been causing worry and disruption since it first emerged. Attention immediately turned to its origin: where did this new virus come from? Despite all the efforts made in China to contain the virus, it has become a pandemic. Cases have been confirmed in more than 110 countries, and the number of lives lost to the virus continues to rise. The economic toll is likely to run into trillions of US dollars. The first cases of infection appear to trace […]

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23 Apr 2019

Wild Animal Welfare Committee (WAWC) Conference 2019

Paula Sparks and Natalie Harney report on the Wild Animal Welfare Committee (WAWC) Conference 2019. We had the recent privilege of attending the second conference hosted by WAWC, a body that provides independent advice about the welfare of free-living wild animals in the UK. We would suggest that what emerged from this thoroughly interesting and informative conference was a consensus that the current legislative regime protecting wild animals leaves much to be desired, that much work remains to be done […]

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