NEWS
Breaking news on our work and issues affecting wildlife.
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Latest news
Hunting News Update – Good news for stags as ‘season’ finally draws to a close
There is just over six weeks to fill out the government consultation on ‘trail hunting’, which closes on 18 June. Protect the Wild has published
We Didn’t Win the Election – But We Changed the Conversation
Yesterday, we lost the election. But we won the moment. Because as millions of eyes across the country watched the results being announced, they saw
Polar Bears International: Still refusing further protection for polar bears
Protect the Wild recently published an exposé of international conservation charity Polar Bears International (PBI). Our supporters have already sent more than 6000 messages to
Convicted fox hunter leaves court saying “I’m going hunting now.”
On Monday 20 April, huntsman Wayne Greggory of Somerset’s Vale of Taunton & Banwell Harriers was convicted of an offence under the Hunting Act 2004
EXPOSED: ‘Polar Bear Protection’ Charity Backs Killing Them
Polar Bears are well known and much beloved animals. I bet not many of Protect the Wild’s readers have seen one in real life, but
Arrested for holding a placard: An interview with Saule and Jack from Camp Beagle
On 24 February animal defenders Saule and Jack were arrested at Camp Beagle, a protest camp against the MBR Acres beagle breeding facility in Huntingdon.
GOOD NEWS! for the campaign to end the Guga hunt
Today, the Scottish Parliament ensured this petition will carry forward – and with it, a real chance to change the law. Today, MSPs made an
Hunting Update – Two hunters found guilty of assaults on sabs and more
February 2026 saw several hunt members convicted for violence against wildlife and wildlife defenders alike. Meanwhile – as we wait for the Labour government to
This might be the biggest news for animals in years
For more than a decade, I have dedicated my life to protecting animals. I have stood on the streets at demonstrations. I have lobbied online.
Gannets: The hunters don’t want you to see this letter…
You’re about to read something the Guga hunters never expected the public to see. They thought it would stay private. They were wrong. The Guga
King Charles’ new ‘Finding Harmony’ documentary is deeply hypocritical. Here’s why
‘Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision’ is a glossy vanity project aimed at establishing King Charles’ legacy as a supposed defender of the natural world. Charles’
Labour and ‘trail hunting’: promises but still no ban.
Labour has been promising to tighten up the loopholes in the Hunting Act for years. In June 2024 the Labour Manifesto pledged to ban ‘trail
GUILTY: Pipewell Foot Beagles court report
Planned for three days, the trial of the Pipewell Foot Beagles and two of its members ended dramatically less than an hour into day two
Hunting News: While politicians argue about ‘trail hunting’ the killing goes on
January was a bad month for hunting. On 5 January, Emma Reynolds, MP for Wycombe and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Few convictions means no illegal hunting? Ten cases that illustrate why that’s not true.
Since the publication of Labour’s animal welfare strategy just before Christmas, there has been ever more desperate pushback from pro-hunt lobbyists like the British Hound
SHAMEFUL! Newry Hunt kill cat in private garden
On 30 December Chloe, a dog groomer from Rathfriland, County Down, found the lifeless body of her companion animal, Rodney the cat, behind a wall
Tory MP’s opinion poll not worth the paper it’s written on
Stuart Anderson, Tory MP for South Shropshire, has released an opinion poll on the Labour government’s plans to enact a stronger ban on trail hunting.
Boxing Day: Bad for Business
Another Christmas holiday, another Boxing Day hunt. What was once the most significant high day in the hunting calendar is today a PR exercise for
GOOD NEWS: 2026 is looking bleak for fox hunters
As 2025 draws to a close, the coming year is looking bleak for supporters of hunting with hounds. Baroness Hayman of Ullock, the Minister for
Wildlife defenders are planning protests across the UK against Boxing Day Hunts
As communities across the UK brace themselves for the annual display of pro-hunt Boxing Day carnage, many wildlife defenders are organising to resist. Protect the
Tiverton Council says hunt meets are not welcome and more
In this mid-December fox hunting update, the UK’s animal rights community is bracing itself for an intensified fight in 2026. Labour is promising that the
Forgive us our trespasses? Hunts continue to cause havoc in communities across the UK
In this late November/Early December hunting update fox hunts have been busy terrorising schools and local communities across the UK. Tragically, the Beaufort Hunt was
New report shows convictions for wildlife crime offences at record low
A report by a coalition of charities reveals that only a tiny fraction of reported wildlife crimes lead to a prosecution and that convictions for
Badger business: Protect the Wild’s first round-up of badger-related news
Protect the Wild began writing regular round-ups showcasing the latest news in the struggle against fox hunting earlier this year. Moving forward, we will be
Death by a thousand failures – What DEFRA’s governance means for wildlife
Protect the Wild has released a new report about the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) governance of the farming sector – and
Add your signature to protect wildlife from catapults
A petition, demanding a change of law to protect wildlife from catapult attacks, needs your signature. Launched by Christopher Smith of Greenwich Wildlife Network, the
More than £1m in taxpayer-funded farming subsidies handed over to hunts
New research carried out by Grantham Against Blood Sports and Protect the Wild has revealed that more than £1m in farming subsidies have been handed
Exposed: How hunts are benfitting from taxpayer money to continue their activities
Protect the Wild has worked alongside Grantham Against Bloodsports to uncover how much hunts are benefitting from taxpayer money. The evidence is staggering, and reveals
Hunts have claimed nearly £1.5m in support from councils across England
Analysis of business rate relief records by Grantham Against Bloodsports (GAB) and Protect the Wild has revealed the extent to which taxpayers are supporting hunts,
Blood Money: How public bodies fund wildlife killing
Protect the Wild is sick of waiting for our incompetent government to protect the UK’s wildlife. We’re done with empty promises that were apparently only
Hunting News Early October: Two beagle packs fold and more
With the so-called ‘season’ for hunting hares in full swing, there’s reason to cheer: two of the UK’s hare hunting beagle packs have announced that
How a Drone Is Helping Protect Wildlife from Hunts in the Moors
Two years ago we launched “The Protect the Wild Equipment Fund’, saying that it would provide equipment to individuals or groups who are working as
Red Squirrels threatened by renewable energy project
The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales (WTSWW) has launched a campaign against a planned renewable ‘energy park’ that threatens one of the few
North York Moors National Park – NOT a safe place for wildlife
As we enter another shooting ‘season’, Protect the Wild is publishing a series of articles about the key regions of the UK that attract both
Devon and Somerset Staghounds on another killing spree.
On 13 September Devon and Somerset Staghounds (DSSH) once again showed just how ugly the face of stag hunting really is. The hunt separated a
The Post Office Scandal of Wildlife: Badger Cull Exposed as a Catastrophic Mistake
The badger cull strategy, based on the results of the 1998 – 2005 Randomised Badger Control Trial (RBCT), put the wheels in motion for the
Mid September hunting news update: Norfolk terrierman convicted of animal cruelty and more
In this mid-September fox hunting news update we report on the conviction of a Norwich based terrierman for not providing medical care to a Patterdale
Hen Harrier Southern Reintroduction project dumped
“Following a thorough review, it has become clear that Natural England is no longer in a position to provide the long-term funding and resource needed
Media outrage over catapults but no condemnation of bird shooting
A 21-year old man in Sevenoaks, Kent has been arrested after videos surfaced of him apparently killing birds with a catapult. This is just the
Big Butterfly Count: ‘broadly average’ and ‘urgent measures needed’.
As the charity Butterfly Conservation(BC) puts it starkly on their website, “Following the results of the Big Butterfly Count 2024, Butterfly Conservation have declared a
Emma Reynolds MP: business lobbyist now in charge of nature
Keir Starmer has reshuffled his cabinet following the resignation of deputy leader Angela Rayner. For the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the shake-up
September hunting news: Cattistock caught red-handed and more
In this early September hunting news update the shameful practice of cubbing, the cruel killing of young foxes to train hunting dogs, is in full
Today is the day I walk 24 hours straight for British wildlife
So it’s the 1st of September, usually on the first of each month we run our £1 donation day where we ask supporters to donate
BASC raffling ducks and geese on National Nature Reserve
If anything sums up the disgraceful ‘normalisation’ of killing birds in England, it’s surely the ‘raffle’ that shooting lobbyists BASC (the British Association of Shooting
Normalising wildlife crime at the UK’s Agricultural Shows
The UK’s summer Agricultural Shows are key dates in the calendar for pro-hunting advocates. Hunt groups use the events as a way to normalise their
Durrell Trust refuses to engage with members – again
Members of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT) have been pressuring the organisation to end its support for pay-to-shoot deer stalking on the Dalnacardoch Estate
Police report alarming rise in hare coursing
Police are reporting that warm weather is contributing to a spike in hare coursing incidents. Hare coursing is a cruel and illegal bloodsport that involves
Mid August fox hunting update – Cubbing foiled in Devon and more
In this mid-August fox hunting update, hunts around the UK have begun the Summer ‘cubbing season’. Cubbing is the disgraceful practice of hunting and killing
Durrell Trust performs yet another U-Turn on deer stalking
For many months, Protect the Wild has been following the grassroots campaign to stop the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT) from allowing pay-to-shoot deer stalking
Pipewell Foot Beagles huntsman, whipper-in and directors plead not guilty
The whipper-in and huntsman from a Northamptonshire based hare hunt have pleaded not guilty to offences under the Hunting Act 2004. The charges were brought
Late July Fox Hunting News Update: Reports of early Cubbing and more
In this packed late July fox hunting news update, reports are coming in that some hunts have started cubbing and levereting (hunting fox cubs and
NatureScot licences slaughter of Gannet chicks
To widespread condemnation, NatureScot – Scotland’s nature agency that (supposedly) works “to improve our natural environment in Scotland and inspire everyone to care more about
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