NEWS
Breaking news on our work and issues affecting wildlife.
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Latest news
New petition in Hockley to save badger setts
Residents of the village of Hockley in Essex have launched a campaign demanding that the local council halts plans to create allotments on land where
Why are Church of England Reverends wishing hounds ‘fruitful’ days of hunting?
At the end of 2024, a Church of England Reverend was witnessed blessing hunting hounds in Devon. Some weeks before this, another clergyman was photographed
REVEALED: Government discusses badger cull with farming lobbyists in off-the-record meetings
Following Labour’s general election victory in 2024, Keir Starmer said “the fight for trust is the battle that defines our political era.” However, new Freedom
Cheshire Indies use drone donated by PTW Equipment Fund to surveil Cheshire Hunt
Protect the Wild runs an equipment fund to support wildlife protection groups to buy the tech needed to carry out their vital work. We always
Police ‘investigating’ more illegal hunting by Dorset’s notorious BSV hunt
Dorset Police Rural Crime Team responded to two separate reports of illegal hunting by the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale (BSV) hunt on 1 February. They
South Shropshire terrierman fined for blocking a badger sett
David Conde, a terrierman for the South Shropshire Hunt (SSH), has been ordered to pay an £845 fine by Telford Magistrates Court, after admitting to
Search underway in Lincolnshire for missing rhea, who was spooked by a hunt pack
A search is underway for a missing rhea, who ran away on Saturday 1 February after a hunt group’s hounds rode close to the perimeter
Lake District hunts served with Community Protection Warnings
Cumbria Constabulary has sent Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) to two Cumbria hunts, after receiving complaints from the public. We asked Cumbria Constabulary about the contents
REVEALED: Police force releases long-hidden agreement with Warwickshire Hunt
Following months of pressure, Warwickshire Police has released the controversial protocol it entered into with the Warwickshire Hunt. So, what have we found out? Protect
South Dorset Hunt: men stalk and harass lone woman
The South Dorset Hunt is known for its intimidation tactics to try to shake off hunt saboteurs. Its supporters reached a new low on 4
The Eggesford Hunt begins 2025 with a killing spree
Devon’s Eggesford Hunt has begun 2025 in the most barbaric way, killing a fox and a deer at two separate meets. These murders should be
Hunting hounds left freezing and stranded in local shop
A Northern Ireland hunt left a number of its hounds stranded in freezing cold temperatures at the weekend. The news comes just days before a
Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt ends 2024 with four days of carnage
2024 came to an end with the country’s worst hunt causing untold suffering over a number of days. In this guest article, Dorset Hunt Monitors
Ten reasons why 2024 was a great year for wildlife
It’s that time of year again when we remind ourselves that 2024 was, in many ways, a good year for wildlife! The Tories were ousted,
BOXING DAY: Here’s how YOU can gather much needed evidence against hunts
While we’re not wishing the holidays away, it’s a fact that Boxing Day is just around the corner. Hunts all over the country will once
Are Community Protection Warnings worth the paper they’re written on?
West Mercia Police has issued four hunts with Community Protection Warnings (CPWs). Protect the Wild takes a look at what this means, and whether it
The next post office scandal? How flawed science justifies the slaughter of a “protected” species
Imagine this: for decades, an entire government policy causing mass death is founded on evidence that many scientists now say is deeply flawed. Like the
EYES IN THE SKY: Drones increasingly reveal illegal hunting
Drones have proved to be an essential piece of kit for hunt saboteurs and monitors, enabling them to keep a closer eye on hunts. It
HUNT VIOLENCE: Phone smashed into sab’s face
This week saw yet more hunt violence as a saboteur was smashed in the face with a mobile phone and then trodden on by a
Another hunt down! Scotland’s Liddesdale Foxhounds folds
As 2024 comes to a close, Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs announced some great news: the Liddesdale Foxhounds has folded! The sabs reported on the Hunt Saboteurs
Hunt saboteur headbutted and tyres slashed
On 7 December, Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs braved Storm Darragh and faced violence of a more corporeal kind as they sabbed the Grove and Rufford Hunt.
Warwickshire Hunt member hospitalises hunt sab
A member of West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs was taken to hospital on Saturday 30 November after a Warwickshire Hunt rider deliberately rode his horse at
After an ‘autumn of suffering’ for stags, hinds now face a winter of suffering
England’s remaining staghound packs, which operate in the southwest of the country, typically hunt mature stags between August and October before moving on to targeting
Hunt sabs ask ‘What do the Kent Hounds have to hide?’
That time of year is coming up yet again, when hunts all over the country are gearing up for the annual PR stunt that is
Beaufort Hunt issued with Community Resolution
Wiltshire Police has issued the Beaufort Hunt with a Community Resolution due to out of control hounds, just weeks after the Heythrop Hunt received a
South Thames Hunt Sabs: sabbing the notorious Kent Hunt
Towards the end of September this year we were approached by a ‘new’ sab group: South Thames Hunt Sabs. Operating in the South of England
Hunting: new low as fox killed on school grounds
On Tuesday 26 November, Grafton Hunt hounds allegedly killed a fox on school grounds while pupils were in lessons. The hounds were spotted by witnesses
Colin Tizzard: Famous racehorse trainer funding hare hunt
The latest hare hunting pack to emerge in the UK is the Dorset and Somerset Bassets. This hunt, which routinely breaks the law as it
THUGS: Mendip Farmers Hunt terriermen beat up sab
A hunt saboteur was beaten up by Mendip Farmers Hunt terriermen on Thursday 21 November. She was taken to A&E for scans to rule out
HORRIFIC: South Dorset Hunt mutilates fox
Shocking footage, captured by Weymouth Animal Rights (WAR), is another stark reminder that hunters are driven by bloodlust and need to be urgently stopped by
GREAT NEWS! Scotland’s snare ban comes in to effect
It’s a massive victory for wildlife as Scotland’s snare ban comes into force on 25 November. The new legislation follows one year after Wales’ snare
Wynnstay Hunt using ‘dark and dirty tactics’ to bully monitors
It’s becoming an increasingly common scene – hired thugs employed by hunts to intimidate hunt saboteurs and monitors. The latest group to be targeted is
Hunt Havoc: Heythrop Hunt issued with Community Resolution
On 13 November, Gloucestershire Police’s Rural Crime Team announced that the Heythrop Hunt had been issued with a Community Resolution because of its out of
LAMPING: Police share harrowing account of deer mutilation
Two men have been given a slap on the wrist at Lincoln magistrates court after a lamping incident in Lincolnshire. The men used a dog
Snares, hunts, and shoots: Billionaire duke’s vast estate no haven for wildlife
The Green Britain Foundation recently obtained undercover footage of a fox trapped in a snare on the Duke of Westminster’s estate in Cheshire. As the
Blackmore and Sparkford Vale hounds tear up fox in residential garden
Hunting hounds caused yet more havoc this week when the notorious Blackmore and Sparkford Vale’s dogs ran rampage in a residential garden, chasing and killing
Grouse Moor Licencing: the legal mess we always thought it would be
To the surprise of no one, NatureScot (the executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for the country’s natural heritage) has caved in
Scotland: Jed Forest Hunt kills fox in front of sabs
Hunting with dogs is, supposedly, banned in Scotland. Hunts, however, continue to sidestep the country’s 2023 legislation. The Labour government is considering new hunting legislation
Cottesmore Hunt thug pleads guilty after terrorising saboteurs
A hired thug who made life hell for hunt saboteurs pleaded guilty in court on 6 November. David Fildes faced multiple charges after weeks of
Dozens of Britain’s top gardeners join pro-shooting media platform
The pro-hunting media site Scribehound recently launched a gardening ‘channel’. It lists some of the country’s most well-known gardeners among its contributors, including “the nation’s
GUILTY: Wynnstay terrierman sentenced for interfering with badger sett
Wynnstay Hunt terrierman Ryan Brennan has pleaded guilty to interfering with a badger sett in Shropshire. Blocking badger setts is illegal under the Protection of
Drivers forced to slam on brakes as hunts cause ‘carnage’ on roads
Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs reported two incidents of hunts causing carnage on roads last week, risking both dogs’ and drivers’ lives. This should be a
Horrific: Dog forced to fight wildlife loses bottom of his jaw
A man escaped prison on 7 November, despite inflicting the most horrific cruelty on three dogs in his care. 35-year-old Peter Bewsher, from Egremont, Cumbria,
Dorset vicar stands by hare hunters
Protect the Wild’s Blood Business website lists hundreds of businesses, organisations and land owners that are connected to hunting with dogs and/or shooting birds or
Philip Seccombe: pro-hunting Police and Crime Commissioner wants your opinion!
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Seccombe wants your opinion on his “plans for strengthening policing, safeguarding people and protecting communities in Warwickshire.” The PCC
GUILTY! Burton huntsman convicted under Hunting Act
Yet another hunter has been convicted under the Hunting Act. On 28 October, 59-year-old Neil Burton, huntsman of the Burton Hunt, was found guilty of
‘Traumatising’: Gruesome footage shows Seavington Hunt tearing up fox
Two Counties Hunt Sabs have published gruesome footage from the Seavington Hunt’s opening meet, which took place on 26 October. The video shows a fox
Matt Western MP takes on the Countryside Alliance
It has been almost two years since Warwickshire Police issued the Warwickshire Hunt with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) for causing road chaos. Controversially, in
HAVE YOUR SAY! Northern Ireland launches consultation into banning hunting with dogs
It is still completely legal to hunt wild mammals with dogs in Northern Ireland. But the Alliance Party is trying to ban the barbaric practice
Undercover footage of raptor persecution ‘a game changer’
On 22 October Channel 4’s Alex Thomson introduced extraordinary video footage captured by the RSPB Investigations Team of three gamekeepers on a grouse moor in
Harrowing photos show hunting hound plummeting off bridge
Hunt saboteurs have captured the moment a hunting hound tumbled off a railway bridge. As Protect the Wild launches our new campaign to rehome the
Equipment Fund: Keeping up the pressure on Cheshire’s hunts
Twenty years after the passing of the Hunting Act there are still several hundred hunts going out with packs of hounds (and more often than
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