Protect All Wildlife Blog

Charity Auction To Help Disabled Animals

This is your chance to bid on signed memorabilia kindly donated by animal welfare legend Ricky Gervais in our ‘Charity Auction To Help Disabled Animals’.

This is a sealed bid auction, so all you need to do is decide which item you would like to bid for – noting the reserve price for each – and send us your bid with the lot number and name by email to protectallwildlife@btinternet.com by 21:00 on the 31st of January 2024 . We will email you to let you know if your bid is the highest. Postage costs will be calculated when the auction ends. Good luck!

All funds raised help support the Miracle’s Mission Centre for Disabled Animals and their work in the rescue, treatment and rehoming of sick, injured and disabled animals .

Happy bidding and good luck 🐾.

LOT 1

This signed image has been very kindly donated by animal welfare great Ricky Gervais. (Image size 200 cms x 250 cms. Frame is for display purpose and is not included).

Reserve: £100

Lot 2

This signed image has been very kindly donated by animal welfare great Ricky Gervais. (Image size 200 cms x 250 cms. Frame is for display purpose and is not included).

Reserve: £100

Lot 3

This signed After Life image has been very kindly donated by animal welfare great Ricky Gervais. (Image size 7 inches x 5 inches. Frame is for display purpose and is not included).

Reserve: £100

Lot 4

This signed The Office image has been very kindly donated by animal welfare great Ricky Gervais. (Image size 105 cms x 150 cms. Frame is for display purpose and is not included).

Reserve: £100

Thank you for taking the time to look at our auction and happy bidding.

If you would like to make a donation to our fundraiser to help support our work you can do so at Fundraiser To Help Disabled Animals. Thank you.

Miracle’s Mission are a non-profit animal welfare organisation that works with sick, injured and disabled animals worldwide.

Our mission is to provide a place of safety for animals in danger, to educate on the needs of neutering both pets and strays and to neuter stray dogs and cats to prevent the birth of more animals onto the streets. We also rehabilitate and re-home dogs in need, often with disabilities, from our UK rescue base.

Miracle’s Mission Christmas Appeal

Thank you for your support in the past year but we still need your help.

We are wrapping up another year at Miracle’s Mission. In the past year we have continued to provide a place of safety for animals in danger, to educate on the needs of neutering both pets and strays and to neuter stray dogs and cats to prevent the birth of more animals onto the streets. We have also rehabilitated and re-homed many dogs and cats in need, many with disabilities.

Even with all this wonderful news we are still in dire need of funds to help us keep our doors open. We need donations to help pay for food, heating and other bills, as well as staff costs and expenses like petrol for home visits. The average cost to feed a dog for one month typically costs somewhere from £16 to £50, depending on the breed. Microchipping costs about £10 to £15. The average cost of essential vaccinations is £64. A routine vet appointment costs between £40-£60. The average cost of a 30-miunte physiotherapy or hydrotherapy session is £50. Prosthetics and dog wheels etc are upwards of £500.

We appreciate your continuous support, we truly wouldn’t be here without you.

Could you help us with our end of year fundraiser? Any donation helps!

With best wishes, Paul Christian, Patron of Miracle’s Mission.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP RESCUE ANIMALS

You can support our work by donating as little as £5 – It only takes a minute but it can last a lifetime for an animal in need. Please donate at: PLEASE HELP THE RESCUE ANIMALS AT MIRACLES MISSION

37 Years After The Chernobyl Disaster, Cameras Show Wildlife Is Thriving Again.

Chernobyl has become a refuge for wildlife 37 years after the nuclear accident

The Chernobyl disaster happened on April 26, 1986. The city of Pripyat was evacuated, but animals remained in the area. Over 37 years later, some species have thrived, others have been severely affected, and even new species have been introduced. But how did these animals respond to radiation exposure? What were the effects of living in and around the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone?

The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine sent a radioactive cloud across Europe. Within weeks, nearly 100,000 people who lived in a large zone surrounding the disaster site had been evacuated, never to return to the poisoned land.

Today, the relics of their past — hollowed-out hotels, empty swimming pools, crumbling farming villages and oxidized ferris wheels — stand in ghostly abandonment across a contaminated region larger than Rhode Island

But time has not stood still. Nature has reclaimed the area, and new photographic data show the 1,600 square-mile Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is now “basically an incredibly large sanctuary” for animals large and small.

Wildlife in the area surrounding Chernobyl seems to be thriving in the radiation-contaminated exclusion zone, according to a new study. Many large mammal populations were found in the area including Grey Wolves, Wild Boar, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Moose, Bison, Red Foxes and Elk.

CHERNOBYL dn28281-1_800 The study, published in the journal Current Biology, finds that a nuclear disaster may be less threatening to wildlife than habitation, reports The Los Angeles Times.

The results show that the exclusion zone supports wildlife, “regardless of potential radiation effects on individual animals,” the study authors wrote.

CHERNOBYL Bison drink on the Belarus side of the Chernobyl exclusion zone These results demonstrate for the first time that, regardless of potential radiation effects on individual animals, the Chernobyl exclusion zone supports an abundant mammal community after nearly three decades of chronic radiation.

The 1986 Chernobyl incident was one of the world’s most catastrophic nuclear disasters. An explosion and a fire at the nuclear power plant in Ukraine released radioactive material into the air, which spread over several countries. An estimated 116,000 people were permanently evacuated from the 1,622 square-mile Chernobyl exclusion zone.

chernobyl-wildlife-camera-traps The study shows that the numbers of wildlife are “much higher than they were before the accident,” according to BBC News.

Professor Jim Smith of the University of Portsmouth said that these findings do “not mean that radiation is good for wildlife.” Rather, the “effects of human habitation, including hunting, farming, and forestry, are a lot worse,” explained Smith, lead author of the study.

It’s just that the effects of human habitation, including hunting, farming, and forestry, are a lot worse.

Smith and his colleagues from the Polesky State Radioecological Reserve in Belarus examined data from aerial surveys that counted the large mammals in the area. The number of these animals “in Chernobyl is similar to the populations in uncontaminated nature reserves,” Smith said.

The numbers of animals we see in Chernobyl is similar to the populations in uncontaminated nature reserves.

CHERNOBYL 6941f354-85f5-47fc-81b8-7d6bfbfe38fc.format_jpeg.inline_yes Most surprising was the number of wolves in the exclusion zone – up to seven times higher than the number on nature reserves of a similar size. Smith attributes this to the lack of hunting – and humans – in the area.

The study of the exclusion zone shows what happens to wildlife conservation “when you take humans out of the picture,” said Smith.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

You can support our work by donating as little as £5 – It only takes a minute but it can last a lifetime for an animal in need.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Everyone who donates will receive a Certificate of Appreciation as a thank you for helping animals in need.

The Mission of Protect All Wildlife is to prevent cruelty and promote the welfare of ALL animals. We believe EVERY animal should be treated with respect, empathy, and understanding. We raise awareness to protect and conserve wild, captive, companion and farm animals.

It is vital that we protect animals against acts of cruelty, abuse, and neglect by enforcing established animal welfare laws and, when necessary, take action to ensure that those who abuse animals are brought to justice.

Protect All Wildlife are involved in many projects to protect animals’ rights, welfare, and habitats. Money contributed to Protect All Wildlife supports ALL of our worthy programmes and gives us the flexibility to respond to emerging needs. Your donations make our work possible.

After Whales And Dolphins, Ottawa Intends To Ban Captive Monkeys And Elephants.

After Whales and Dolphins, Ottawa intends to ban keeping Elephants and great Apes in captivity in the country “because of the cruelty they represent”.

A new bill, called The Jane Goodall Act, was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday to ban anyone from taking an Elephant or a great Ape, a term that includes Chimpanzees, Gorillas and Orangutans.

Canadian zoos won’t be able to bring in new elephants or apes under new federal legislation introduced this week, except under specific circumstances. Bill S-15 looks to ban all new captivity of the species except where a licence is granted for conservation, research or an animal’s best interest.

“The recapture of any Elephant or great Ape in Canada must meet very strict criteria demonstrating that the activity is for animal welfare, conservation or science,” commented the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault.

Senator Marky Klyne of Saskatchewan sponsored the bill that was introduced on Tuesday. “It is upsetting to know that according to current standards, a person does not need to hold a permit to own a chimpanzee in some regions of Canada,” he lamented to explain the interest of his fee.

Elephants, for their part, are very intelligent animals that suffer when kept in captivity or presented to the public in an unnatural environment, added the senator in the second reading of the law on Thursday.

Minister Guilbeault announced the ban on the import of ivory from Elephant tusks and Rhino horns, including hunting trophies and articles carved from ivory, for which it is necessary to obtain a permit. Few exceptions are planned for museums and scientific research.

**Elephant ivory and rhino horn imports have been banned by Ottawa**

Tightening the laws

The law banning the captivity of great Apes and Elephants is part of a series of laws adopted to better protect animals in Canada and elsewhere in the world.

In 2019, Canada also banned the keeping of Whales and Dolphins in captivity.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

You can support our work by donating as little as £5 – It only takes a minute but it can last a lifetime for an animal in need.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Everyone who donates will receive a Certificate of Appreciation as a thank you for helping animals in need.

South Korea’s Dog Farmers Protest At Proposed Ban On Dog Meat

**Dogs pictured in cages at a dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea. Credit: REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji**

HWASEONG, South Korea (Reuters) – As South Korea moves to ban eating dog meat, many of those involved in the centuries-old controversial practice are fighting to keep it legal.

The farmers who breed the dogs, and the owners of eateries that serve the meat, have held protests in front of parliament to demand the government and ruling People Power Party scrap plans to pass a bill this year to enforce a ban.

**Rescue workers from Humane Society International rescue a dog at a dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea. Credit: REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji**

They say banning dog meat would decimate their livelihoods, and also limit the options available to diners by taking off the menu a dish that in the Korean peninsula has traditionally been consumed to beat the summer heat, but which today is only eaten by some older people.

“If I have to close down, with the financial condition I’m in, there really is no answer to what I can do,” said Lee Kyeong-sig, who runs a farm outside Seoul raising up to 1,100 dogs. “I’ve been in this for 12 years and it is so sudden.”

A Gallup Korea poll last year showed almost two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015.

Despite its declining popularity and opposition from animal rights activists, previous attempts to ban dog meat have failed because of industry protests.

**Rescued dogs are seen as they wait for transport, at a dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea. credit: REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji**

This time, the government has said the proposed ban would give the industry a three-year grace period to transition out of the trade, as well as provide the maximum possible financial support for those affected.

With the backing of the public, and bipartisan support in parliament, there are signs that the ban could soon become law.

TIME FOR CHANGE

The agriculture ministry declined to give details about the size of the industry, but the Korean Association of Edible Dogs, says far more farms and restaurants than those cited by the government will be affected.

The association said 3,500 farms raising 1.5 million dogs and 3,000 restaurants will have to shut down, almost twice the numbers stated by officials.

Nam Sung-gue who has run a restaurant selling dog meat boshintang, or “restoring” soup, for the past 30 years, said the ban was unfair, even though his business is fast declining.

“If they try to ban the food that people have eaten for a long time, that is a wrong kind of law, a law that takes away the freedom to choose what we eat,” he said.

Many opponents of the ban blame it on First Lady Kim Keon Hee, a vocal critic of dog meat consumption who along with her husband President Yoon Suk Yeol has six dogs.

South Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee invite the newest member of the presidential family Saeromi, a retired guide dog, after adopting her from the Samsung Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

Asked about Kim’s influence, an official at the president’s office said: “Both in the country and abroad there is support and consensus, as well as from the opposition party.”

An Byung-gil, member of parliament for the ruling party who is the main sponsor of the bill, also said the time was ripe for change. “Even though something may be part of tradition, what needs to be changed has to be changed,” he said.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

You can support our work by donating as little as £5 – It only takes a minute but it can last a lifetime for an animal in need.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Everyone who donates will receive a Certificate of Appreciation as a thank you for helping animals in need.

Latest RSPB Birdcrime Report Shows Hen Harriers And White-Tailed Eagles Amongst The Victims Of Continued Illegal Persecution!

**White-Tailed Eagle (G408) found poisoned on a pheasant shoot in West Sussex. Credit: RSPB**

Press release from RSPB (24 November 2023):

Birdcrime report reveals Hen Harriers and White-Tailed Eagles amongst victims of continuing illegal persecution

*61 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents nationally

·*At least 64% of all incidents are linked to land used for gamebird shooting

The RSPB’s annual RSPB BIRDCRIME REPORT published today details the illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of protected birds of prey. Amongst the victims are Buzzards, Red Kites, Goshawks, Hen Harriers, Peregrine Falcons and White-Tailed Eagles. All these species are protected by laws designed to help our rarest and threatened species. There is clearly no place for such crimes against some of our best loved species.

The report documents that Hen Harriers, a red listed species, are being relentlessly targeted, particularly in areas dominated by driven grouse moors. Since January 2022, RSPB and Natural England data reveals that 39 Hen Harriers have been confirmed killed or have ‘suspiciously disappeared’ across the UK, with eight satellite-tagged birds being persecuted or disappearing in suspicious circumstances in the same area near Birkdale in North Yorkshire alone.

Two of the most shocking incidents recorded against Hen Harriers include a Natural England satellite-tagged bird called Free which had its head pulled off while still alive, and four Hen Harrier chicks that were trampled to death in a nest being monitored by Natural England. The report reveals that one RSPB tagged Hen Harrier named Dagda was found shot dead in May 2023 on a moor at Knarsdale, next door to the RSPB nature reserve at Geltsdale on which it was breeding. It is unknown who shot the bird, but the supporting tag data is clear in documenting where and when this incident took place. A recent peer-reviewed study by the RSPB found that survival of tagged Hen Harriers in the UK was very low, with birds living on average for only four months. As much as 75% of annual mortality of tagged birds was due to illegal killing associated with grouse moor management. If this relentless killing continues, the future of these rare and threatened birds remains at serious risk in the UK.

The report also highlights the significant case of a young White-Tailed Eagle from the UK Government licenced re-introduction scheme on the Isle of Wight, which was confirmed poisoned on a shooting estate in West Sussex. This was the first case of this species being illegally killed in England since their extinction due to persecution in the 18th Century. On the same estate, three days after the eagle died from ingesting a banned poison, a Labrador dog suffered the same fate after ingesting the same pesticide – Bendiocarb. Frustratingly the police investigation failed to hold anyone to account for these crimes.

**The RSPB Birdcrime report exposes the relentless persecution of Birds of prey across the UK**

There were two successful convictions for raptor persecution crimes in 2022, with both individuals being gamekeepers. Disappointingly, in one case, where multiple birds of prey were shot or poisoned – the gamekeeper received a 200-hour community order and was ordered to pay just £1,200 in fines, costs and compensation. As this case highlights, existing wildlife protection laws are failing to protect birds of prey, acting neither as a deterrent nor as an appropriate punishment for the crimes committed.

This latest report, alongside peer-reviewed papers, intelligence and data from wildlife crime incidents continues to affirm that raptor persecution is frequently linked to land managed for gamebird shooting. Evidence shows on some shooting estates birds of prey are deliberately targeted to reduce potential predation on gamebird stocks and sometimes also to reduce disturbance to these quarry species on shoot days. The RSPB continues to call for the licensing of grouse shooting in England, and following such measures now being introduced by the Scottish Government, to provide a meaningful deterrent to the illegal killing of birds of prey.

RSPB Chief Operating Officer, James Robinson said “Sadly, once again, the report documents the shameful illegal killing of rare and vulnerable birds of prey, an important part of our natural heritage. Given the correlation in location between birds of prey persecution and land under game management, the RSPB is calling for greater regulation of shooting, in particular intensive forms of grouse shooting. A Bill to introduce licensing of grouse moors in Scotland to stop raptor persecution is now moving ahead and we need a similar response in England”.

If you notice a dead or injured bird of prey in suspicious circumstances, call the police on 101 and fill in the RSPB’s online reporting form: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wild-bird-crime-report-form/

If you have information about anyone killing birds of prey which you wish to report anonymously, call the RSPB’s confidential Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

You can support our work by donating as little as £5 – It only takes a minute but it can last a lifetime for an animal in need.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Everyone who donates will receive a Certificate of Appreciation as a thank you for helping animals in need.

Fundraiser To Help With Cancer & Stomach Surgery Living Costs

What effect does cancer have on income?

The impact of a cancer diagnosis on household incomes can be substantial. People with cancer often have a huge reduction in their household’s income as a result of their diagnosis.

After many years of fundraising for various animal charities I now find myself needing help myself.

In October 2022 I contracted Covid. Following that I noticed that I was very lethargic all of the time. I put that down to long-covid and had various tests. When these weren’t conclusive my GP thankfully referred me on a Vague Symptom pathway. In June 2023 I was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer. I had laparoscopy surgery to determine the extent of the tumour. Following this, I commenced an intensive course chemotherapy which will end in late November. If the tumour is successfully reduced in size I will then have surgery to have my full stomach removed. My oesophagus will then be attached to my small intestine. The total timescale for chemotherapy, surgery and recovery is approximately 9 months or so.

Previous to my diagnosis I worked full-time as mental health nurse. Unfortunately, due to my diagnosis, treatment and severe side-effects etc I am unable to work. I was initially paid fully but will go to half pay on December 1st then SSP in 2024. I will then have to claim support benefits which won’t amount to enough to pay my bills and general living costs.

As a result, I am humbly turning to the Internet and hoping I can raise enough funds so money troubles aren’t another issue to deal with whilst having my chemotherapy and surgery etc. Chemotherapy is exhausting enough however after the stomach surgery I will have to undergo massive lifestyle changes and recovery will take a long time.

Any help, support and donations would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes, Paul.

If you can donate ANY amount please do so at: Cancer & Stomach Surgery Living Costs Fundraiser

Louis Vuitton Continues To Fully Embrace The Company Ethos Of Ignoring Animal Cruelty For Profit.

Earlier this year musician Pharrell Williams took on a new role as creative director at Louis Vuitton, and it seems that he has fully embraced the company ethos of ignoring animal cruelty for profit.

**Every crocodile-skin handbag represents the hideously gruesome death of a sensitive animal. Credit: PETA**

Pharrell has just launched a new Louis Vuitton bag that costs a million dollars and is made of crocodile skin. This bag is not only a symbol of the most grotesque, tone-deaf aspects of extreme wealth and privilege, it is also the product of the torture and death of innocent animals.

This embarrassing choice comes on the heels of Gucci, in partnership with ethical superstar Billie Eilish, announcing the release of their classic 1955 Horsebit bag made from a next-gen vegan leather, proving that high-fashion can and should change with the times. Meanwhile Louis Vuitton is stuck in the past ignoring compassion and common sense and completely missing the moment.

**Pharrell Williams with the £1m bag made of crocodile skins**

Every year, more than 30,000 crocodiles are violently killed in Vietnam just so that out of touch clothing brands like Louis Vuitton can use their skins to make wallets, shoes, and handbags. These helpless animals endure horrific living conditions crowded into small, barren, tanks and cages for months or even a few years before they are killed. Crocodiles can live for 60 years in the wild, but in the name of old-fashioned fashion they are killed before they even reach the age of two. These ancient, feeling, creatures often have their throats cut and their spinal cords severed but continue to remain conscious as they are skinned alive, suffering unimaginable agony.

**Every year, more than 30,000 Crocodiles are killed for the fashion industry**

Over 20 major fashion brands, including luxury designers like Chanel and Vivian Westwood have made the ethical decision to stop using exotic animal skins in their products, but Louis Vuitton continues to be on the wrong side of history and continues to profit off of the suffering and abuse of these animals.

Please Join Species Unite in letting Louis Vuitton know there is nothing luxurious or fashionable about animal cruelty.

Sign the petition here: Tell Louis Vuitton to Stop Torturing Crocodiles

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

You can support our work by donating as little as £5 – It only takes a minute but it can last a lifetime for an animal in need.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Everyone who donates will receive a Certificate of Appreciation as a thank you for helping animals in need.

South Korea Plans To BAN Eating Dogs By 2027: Animal Groups Praise ‘Historic Announcement’ As ‘A Dream Come True’.

South Korea aims to ban eating dog meat and put an end to the controversy over the ancient custom amid growing awareness of animal rights, a ruling party policy chief said on Friday.

The Korean practice of eating dog meat has drawn criticism from overseas for its cruelty but there has also been increasing opposition at home, particularly from the younger generation.

“It is time to put an end to social conflicts and controversies around dog meat consumption through the enactment of a special act to end it,” Yu Eui-dong, policy chief of the ruling People Power Party, said at a meeting with government officials and animal rights activists.

The government and ruling party would introduce a bill this year to enforce a ban, Yu said, adding that with expected bipartisan support, the bill should sail through parliament.

Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun told the meeting the government would implement a ban quickly and provide the maximum possible support for those in the dog meat industry to close their businesses.

First lady Kim Keon Hee has been a vocal critic of dog meat consumption and, along with her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, has adopted stray dogs.

Anti-dog meat bills have failed in the past because of protests by those involved in the industry, and worry about the livelihoods of farmers and restaurant owners.

The proposed ban will include a three-year grace period and financial support for businesses to transition out of the trade.

Eating dog meat has been an age-old practice on the Korean peninsula and is seen as a way to beat the summer heat.

But it is much less common than it used to be in South Korea, though it is still eaten by some older people and served in certain restaurants.

Animal rights groups welcomed the prospect of a ban. “A dream come true for all of us who have campaigned so hard to end this cruelty,” Humane Society International said in a statement.

There are about dog 1,150 breeding farms, 34 slaughter houses, 219 distribution companies, and some 1,600 restaurants serving dog, according to government data.

A Gallup Korea poll last year showed 64% opposed dog meat consumption. The survey found only 8% of respondents had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015.

Reporting by Ju-min Park (Reuters).

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

You can support our work by donating as little as £5 – It only takes a minute but it can last a lifetime for an animal in need.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED

Everyone who donates will receive a Certificate of Appreciation as a thank you for helping animals in need.

Wolf Cull Begins In Estonia: Conservationists Fear It Could Wipe Out 50% Of The Population

Concerns have been raised that the science behind the killing is untenable, and that killing Wolves could lead to harmful behavior against humans.

Estonia has once again begun culling its Wolf population.

A certain number of Wolves are killed every year in the Baltic country, although this time conservationists are worried.

Estonia’s environment agency has set the killing quota at 144, claiming there are more wolves in the country than conservation plans allow.

However, Wolf researcher Maris Hindrikson at the University of Tartu told Euronews that he and fellow scientists are “not convinced” about their data.

She claims that Wolf populations are being counted based on “old-fashioned” and “messy” techniques – such as hunter observations – that may not accurately reflect their numbers.

This means that the killing quota may be much higher, given the already threatened species under even more strain.

“The problem is we don’t know how many Wolves there are,” Hindrickson says, estimating that the cull could wipe out 30 percent to 50 percent of the country’s entire Wolf population.

In a statement sent to Euronews, the Estonian Environment Agency said its “method was in use in Nordic countries such as Sweden, Finland and Norway.”

“We find the current methodology comprehensive, objective and reasonable,” he said.

Even though Wolf numbers have recovered in recent years, their total number is considered “stable/decreasing” by the International Wolf Centre. Estimates put their total population at between 150 – 300 in Estonia.

Officials claim their culling is necessary because Wolves attack livestock, especially sheep, causing economic losses to the country’s farmers.

According to the Environmental Board of Estonia (Keskonamet), a total of 946 sheep were killed by predatory Wolves in 2022.

It said the figure has crossed 1,100 this year, with several weeks left for 2023.

One particularly grizzly attack at a farm in southeastern Tartu County killed an entire breeding flock of more than a dozen ewes in October, with farmer Rein Mirka telling Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) the incident had cost him between €15,000 to €20,000.

Hindrickson still questions whether killing is the best approach to the problem. “Science has always shown that culling doesn’t actually help reduce sheep deaths”.

As habitats are destroyed – limiting available food resources – Hindrickson claims lethal solutions could be counterproductive, driving Wolves to prey on livestock in the first place.

Killing is a really big problem because it destroys herds. Wolves are very social animals and we know that large packs hunt larger animals such as deer. But generally, small herds seek out smaller prey because they cannot develop cooperative methods of hunting,” she explains.

The researcher says another problem is that when older Wolves are killed younger Wolves do not experience and learn more complex hunting strategies, meaning they resort to eating livestock. . Hindrickson likens it to “fast food” for wolves.

“What I’m against is killing that kills a lot of wolves. We don’t really know how many wolves we have and what impact actually killing them has. It seems like they create a pattern Where we kill so many wolves, they affect how the herds are structured, they go after the sheep, then sheep attacks increase. So then people say yes, sheep are in danger. Please more wolves. kill.

“It’s a continuous cycle,” she adds.

Better alternatives Hindrikson proposes are “ensuring adequate numbers of natural prey in the wild”, such as Deer and Wild Boar, and taking steps to deter Wolves.

“Farmers should build more fences and get guard dogs to scare off Wolves. This is something that has worked all over Europe. We get news of a sheep attack, but often farmers haven’t prevented a thing. We always blame the Wolves, it is easy, but actually, people do everything.

“Prevention and making society understand where this problem comes from and how to mitigate it are very important,” she continues.