‘Ban shooting of birds on all publicly-owned land’
Animal rights groups have called for the shooting of birds for sport on publiclyowned land to be banned.
The call by Animal Aid, the League Against Cruel Sports and Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) comes in response to a consultation launched by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
Last year NRW launched a review into the use of firearms on land it manages following a campaign launched by Animal Aid in 2015.
Following the review, it is now consulting on proposals that could allow pheasant shooting and wildfowling to continue on NRW land where it doesn’t affect the environment.
Thousands of pheasants are released on to NRW land each year, which the campaigners claim has a negative impact on the natural environment.
They say that released game birds compete with indigenous woodland species for resources, affecting wildlife such as butterflies, and that toxic lead shot pollutes waterways and causes increased levels of sickness, death and reproductive failure in birds of prey such as red kites.
Animal Aid has conducted two undercover investigations on NRW land used for shooting. On both visits, the organisation said it identified practices that led to the game birds suffering. In June 2017, for example, an Animal Aid investigator saw an estimated 35 to 40 young pheasants dead on the ground inside a release pen.
Animal rights groups claim the consultation paper issued by NRW does not cover the issues adequately. Animal Aid director Isobel Hutchinson said: “We are extremely concerned to see that the issue of animal welfare does not even merit a proper discussion in the main consultation paper, despite strong evidence submitted about the suffering of game birds and wildlife caused by the shooting industry and the breaches of animal welfare regulations that our investigations have uncovered.”
Elisa Allen, director of Peta UK, said: “These birds are bred for the specific purpose of releasing them and then blasting their brains out with shotguns. We urge NRW to stop supporting this cruel blood sport and instead encourage inclusive pursuits, such as clay pigeon shooting and wildlife tourism, which would benefit woodland animals and the environment, and local communities too.”
Eduardo Gonçalves, chief executive at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “It seems odd to have a consultation on the impact of birds being shot without considering the fact that being shot is not really good for their welfare.”
Tim Jones, NRW executive director for north and mid Wales, said: “Our review has been extremely broad as the new Environment Act requires NRW to plan and manage its work with sustainable management of natural resources as a foundation for all its decisions.
“The review looked at how we manage our own land as well as the small amount of land that we lease out to third parties, During it, we tested the circumstances of firearms use against our purpose to pursue the sustainable management of natural resources and the Well-Being of Future Generations goals.
“We also considered the welfare of animals in relation to our obligations as land manager and relevant legislation. All the evidence submitted during our ‘call for evidence’ stage of the review has been given full and detailed consideration.”
The consultation sets out the evidence and possible alternatives before setting recommendations for the future.
The proposals should:
Continue to use firearms to manage the damage caused by wild animals on the land it manages where this is essential for the sustainable management of natural resources;
Consider all applications for permission to enter on to its land to control wild animals affecting neighbouring land; are that NRW
Consider leasing land for pheasant rearing and shooting and wildfowling where it doesn’t negatively affect sustainable management of the areas.
Rachel Evans, Countryside Alliance director for Wales, said: “The Countryside Alliance welcomes the proposals within the consultation, which has delivered on its promise to be evidence-based and transparent.
“Whilst we are pleased our campaign to counter the anti-firearms propaganda of the animal rights movement has proven to be successful, we must stress the importance of now taking our campaign one step further by asking all members and supporters to respond to the public consultation.
“Where we are strong with facts and experience, the animal rights movement is strong in numbers. We know they will respond in large numbers to this consultation and we need our members to do the same.”