NEWS
Breaking news on our work and issues affecting wildlife.
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Latest news
Protect the Wild supports new parliamentary petition on sports netting
Protect the Wild is supporting a parliamentary petition by a volunteer from the Fox Project calling for the government to require by law that all
Lyme Disease bacteria “2.5 times more common in ticks in pheasant-release areas”.
The bird shooting industry is responsible for a huge amount of harm. For example it sells vast numbers of birds to be shot dead, traps
Open consultation: Heather and grass burning in England
In 1984 a Royal Commission on environmental pollution recommended a ban on straw burning to come into force within five years. In June 1993 a
The Vesteys: a multi-millionaire hunting family
The Vesteys are a wealthy aristocratic family with an empire built on meat, controlling several brands supplying supermarkets and high street retailers. The family –
Fox hunting news roundup Spring 2025
Protect the Wild is planning to write regular digests showcasing the latest news in the struggle against fox hunting. In this Spring 2025 roundup we
‘Friendliest golf course in North London’ kills foxes
There was public outcry in Enfield last week after the Metro ran an expose about Enfield Golf Club – which calls itself the ‘friendliest golf
Ghoulish pictures of the Thurlow Hunt’s ball
Ghoulish pictures have been circulating on social media about what the Thurlow Hunt (TH) got up to at their Hunt Ball. Smiling and dressed for
Lincolnshire farmer/gamekeeper sentenced for crimes relating to raptor persecution
Following a trial at Lincolnshire Magistrates Court earlier this month, farmer/gamekeeper John Bryant, 40, of West Ashby, Horncastle was found guilty of multiple offences following
GRAPHIC: Warwickshire Hunt whipper-in convicted under Hunting Act.
Benjamin Halsall of the Warwickshire Hunt has been convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs in breach of the Hunting Act 2004. ‘Whipper-in’ Halsall,
Two members of notorious BSV Hunt plead guilty to obstructing sabs
Charlie Mayo and Kieron Bashford of the notorious Blackmore and Sparkford Vale (BSV) Hunt plead guilty to willfully obstructing the highway on 3 March. Mayo
Hen Harier Brood Meddling: “Illegal killing of Hen Harriers has continued.”
On the 14th March 2025 a blog on the Natural England (NE) website announced the ‘Conclusion of the Hen Harrier Brood Management Trial’. With a
BSV point-to-point and the sponsors risking their reputations
The Blackmore & Sparkvale (BSV) Hunt has a reputation for animal cruelty, disregard for animal protection legislation, violence and general thuggery. But that didn’t stop
CPS blunder: dismay as trial of Essex and Suffolk huntsmen collapses
The trial of whipper-in Jamie Price, huntsman Jack Henty and Hamish Golding of the Essex and Suffolk hunt collapsed on Tuesday 11 March at Ipswich
Badger cull shambles: Government set to miss key bTB targets for 2025
When the then Conservative government laid out its plans to move forward with a badger cull in 2014, it set goals to achieve certain targets
*GRAPHIC* Pregnant vixen torn apart by Holderness Hunt hounds
On the 4th of March 2025, a devastating incident occurred in East Yorkshire, as the Holderness Hunt hounds were witnessed tearing apart a pregnant vixen.
BSV hunt filmed trying to wrestle spade from roadworks crew
In yet another example of England’s most notorious hunt causing havoc, a member of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale (BSV) hunt was captured on camera
Veganic farmer makes clear Portman Hunt not welcome
Laurence Candy’s farm was certified to Biocyclic Vegan Standards in 2022. He’s already taken a principled stance against animal farming. Now he’s made clear that
Foxhounds continue to be put in danger by hunts
In the last week, several incidents have highlighted the persistent risks foxhounds face during hunting with them repeatedly placed in dangerous situations. Despite claiming to
Animal Cruelty Charges: Ex-Essex & Suffolk Huntsman pleads guilty
Ex-Essex & Suffolk Huntsman Sam Staniland plead guilty to three animal cruelty charges under the Animal Welfare Act at Ipswich Magistrates Court on 26 February.
Tarras Valley, Hen Harriers, and the lies of the shooting industry
Last week yet another young Hen Harrier disappeared ‘in suspicious circumstances’ (the phrase used in official announcements which essentially means ‘we know what happened, but
Beaufort Hunt greenwashing reputation with charity donation
The Beaufort Hunt (BH) are boasting on Facebook that they have donated £2500 to domestic abuse charity Society Without Abuse (SWA – formerly Swindon Women’s
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
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