Primary school children are filming themselves killing and torturing wild animals and sharing the grisly videos on WhatsApp in a ‘sick’ nation-wide ‘trend’. Around 500 youths across 11 groups, which include primary school children, have shared graphic photos and videos of wounded and dead animals killed using a hand-held catapult. Swans, deer, pigeons, foxes, squirrels, […]
Tag: Pheasants
Pheasant meat sold for food found to contain many tiny shards of toxic lead
Eating pheasant killed using lead shot is likely to expose consumers to raised levels of lead in their diet, even if the meat is carefully prepared to remove the shotgun pellets and the most damaged tissue. A study has found that pheasants killed by lead shot contain many fragments of lead too small to detect […]
Winter feeding gamebirds can boost nesting numbers of songbirds the following spring
The scientific data does not support Mark Glover’s assertion that the release of gamebirds results in “environmental devastation” (Slaughter of UK-imported gamebirds carries a hefty price, 22 July). In support of his argument that the release of pheasants is causing an increase in the fox population, he cites Stephen Harris’ paper for the Labour Animal […]
Pheasant shoots are being significantly reduced throughout the UK this year
Because of the import restrictions placed on the birds following an epidemic of avian flu, pheasant shoots are being shut down or significantly reduced this year throughout the UK. Many of the gamebirds shot in the nation are imported from European factory farms. According to experts, this practice has to end or be curtailed since […]
The voluntary phase-out of lead shot in the UK has had almost no effect, with lead discovered in 99.5 percent of birds killed
According to a survey, a voluntary phase-out of lead shot in the UK had almost no effect, with 99.5 percent of birds killed containing the hazardous metal. While other sectors have been compelled to phase out lead, which has been banned from paint and fuel for decades, shooters are still allowed to use it, despite […]
Hundreds of dead pheasants discarded in black bin bags
Disturbing images have emerged of two dozen dead pheasants casually discarded in black bin bags at a North Wales woodland. Welfare campaigner Judi Hewitt said the discovery, near Tremeirchion, Denbighshire, was “yet more proof” of the disregard for bird life shown by many pheasant shoots. She released the pictures as Wales’ environmental watchdog confirmed it […]
Wild birds can be killed to protect game birds in England – new guidance
Some wild birds can be killed in order to protect game birds bred for shooting in England, the government has ruled, in an update to guidance on general shooting licences. General licences give broad permissions to shoot certain species of wild birds to protect livestock, aid conservation, and preserve health and public safety. The new […]
Norfolk white-tailed eagle reintroduction project cancelled
A pioneering project to return white-tailed eagles to Norfolk for the first time in 200 years has been cancelled at the last minute to the dismay of conservationists. The UK’s largest birds of prey were to be released at Wild Ken Hill, the estate that is home to the BBC’s Autumnwatch programme, from next year, […]