The 1,000
hares shot a day need protection, claim animal welfare groups
March 2013. A
new plan to manage hare populations in England
350,000 hares
shot every year
Care for the Wild, the Humane Society International, Blue Hare, and the Hare Preservation Trust are concerned that the current tally of around 350,000 hares hunted each year out of a national population of 750,000 is simply unsustainable.
Care for the Wild, the Humane Society International, Blue Hare, and the Hare Preservation Trust are concerned that the current tally of around 350,000 hares hunted each year out of a national population of 750,000 is simply unsustainable.
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| Photo: Wikipedia |
Philip Mansbridge,
CEO of Care for the Wild, said "Letting the shooting lobby
manage wildlife protection sounds like a bad joke but that is what is
happening. The argument for a closed season to protect pregnant mothers and
their young in February is scientifically sound, common sense and would put England in line with Scotland
Research from
the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust states that shooting hares during
February can remove up to 60% of breeding hares. The hare coalition is seeking
a meeting with wildlife minister Richard Benyon, requesting that DEFRA take
control of the process. Initially the object would be to give Natural England
the responsibility of drawing up a draft voluntary code for a closed season,
but with the ultimate aim of getting a closed season written in law.
The process
would involve working closely not only with shooting, farming and landowning
organisations, but also with all key animal welfare and wildlife protection
groups in the UK
80% decline in
hare populations
A century ago there were around 4 million hares but the population has been reduced by about 80%, mainly because of farming practices that have reduced their habitat, and the annual kill. Previous government plans to double the hare population by 2010 failed.
A century ago there were around 4 million hares but the population has been reduced by about 80%, mainly because of farming practices that have reduced their habitat, and the annual kill. Previous government plans to double the hare population by 2010 failed.
"Hares
are one of the forgotten victims of English wildlife. I think people would be
shocked to know that on average around 1000 are killed every day. That's a
deplorable statistic, so asking for a closed season to protect mothers and
their babies is frankly not much to ask," said Mr Mansbridge.
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