For anti-hunting organizations, such as Anti-Cruel Movement League, The comprehensive impact of the National Trust vote and Hankinson’s judgment is of great significance.
Opponents of hunting and hunting members themselves now regard this practice as the final game.
However, wildlife protectors must not stop here. In addition to the cruel scenes of using dogs to tear apart foxes, our villages are also persecuted by other forms of wild animals in the name of sports.
Drive grouse to shoot It has been widely criticized for its destructive environmental impact.
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Burning large areas of highlands to encourage grouses to eat new heathers to grow, not only releases a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but also affects biodiversity and reduces the water retention capacity of highlands, increasing the risk of flooding in towns and villages in the following areas.
When we resolve the fundamentally linked climate and ecological crises, we must examine the cruel and ecologically destructive practices that often exist in our rural areas.
Obviously, public opinion is firmly opposed to persecuting foxes for sports. It is now necessary to maintain momentum and promote hunting, which has long been a cover for the complete prohibition of hunting and killing foxes.
After the National Trusteeship vote and Hankinson’s judgment, wildlife conservationists must seize the opportunity to connect public concerns about wildlife persecution with other related threats to our biodiversity.
Before the COP26 climate negotiations, a large swamp of English Grouse was on fire. Rewilding must be part of our efforts to combat climate change, and these areas that have been artificially cleaned and kept barren for shooting will be a good starting point.
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If we restore the grouse swamp to its natural state, we will bring it back to the forest and peat swamp areas to create diverse and abundant habitats and help restore our carbon sinks.
It is also worth mentioning that the persecution of birds of prey is also part of the picture. Although this is only a small part of the game keepers, the impact of those who do kill birds of prey is devastating, especially for species such as female harriers.
Since those engaged in illegal hunting inevitably face greater pressure, let us connect the debate with the debate about the grouse swamp. In our rural areas, we need to oppose not only cruelty, but also unsustainable practices that accompany certain forms of shooting.
Opposing the wanton cruelty of fox hunting, the illegal persecution of birds of prey, and the myriad unsustainable practices of grouse marshes are part of the establishment of a more compassionate and sustainable wildlife conservation approach in the UK.
This author
Andrew Taylor-Dawson has been involved in social justice and environmental movements for more than a decade. He works in the NGO sector and writes articles on civil society, elections, and progressive causes.He is on twitter @Andrew_J_Taylor.
