BADGER PERSECUTION Despite their protection, thousands of badgers meet horrific fates every year in Ireland due to barbaric acts of cruelty and illegal activities. Badger baiting is illegal in the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, and it is illegal to interfere with a badger sett. European badger range Synonyms; Ursus meles Linnaeus, 1758. Common crimes involving badgers include: Badger baiting: where badgers are dug from their setts and taken to fight with dogs. Noel Bugler, District Conservation Officer, Superintendent Martin Walker, NPWS Kildare Ranger Roy Thompson and Padraig Comerford, Divisional Manager at National … Once the dog has located a badger the offenders dig down until such time as they reach the dog and badger. Mr. Dowling said “It is very difficult to catch these people in the act. Last Tuesday, Leslie Fowell of Rock Ferry, Merseyside was jailed for a year at Wirral magistrates court for eight offences under the Protection of Badgers Act. The signal from the radio collar is then tracked from above and the group will dig down into the sett to locate the badgers. Video: badger baiting … The one shining example is Holland - TB-free since 1999 without killing a single badger! The RSPCA said the illegal sport leaped from 45 recorded incidents or calls in 2012 to 60 last year. Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, in England and Wales (the law is different in Scotland) it is an offence to: The RSPCA recorded 355 incidents of badger persecution, including illegal snaring as well as digging and baiting, across Wales and England in 2010, compared with 255 reports in 2009. But it's no better in most other European countries, where they enjoy no specific protection and digging, baiting and shooting are widespread. What are the penalties if you fail to comply with the AHWA? Badgers are protected and so are the setts (burrows) they live in. Badger Baiting involves the digging out and killing of badgers in their setts. Wildlife conservationists and gardaí suspect badger-baiting has become more frequent in recent times and they are working closely together in a bid to stamp out the practice, which has been illegal in Ireland for almost 200 years. Badgers are having a rough time in England, writes Lesley Docksey. Hence the new Eurobadger coalition formed to campaign for them Europe-wide. Sadly, it is the badger’s tenacity, its apparent ability to absorb almost any punishment and still go on fighting, which has made it a target for people who get their kicks from inflicting cruelty … Hundreds of badgers are killed during badger baiting season each year with hundreds of people involved in the illegal activity, it has been claimed. For most offences you could be fined up to €5000 and / or … The next step must be for the heinous practice of fox digging and baiting to be outlawed. If you're concerned that someone has done something illegal to a wild animal, please call our 24-hour Cruelty line on 0300 1234 999 - or contact the police. Dogs wearing radio collars are sent below ground into a badger sett and the radio signal is tracked from above. Now circuses using wild animals are illegal. From deer poaching in Donegal, badger baiting in Westmeath or illegal hare coursing in Dublin, crime against wildlife is rife across the country. According to Mr Sharratt, this confirms that badger-baiters are organised and operate through an illegal network. It involves putting trained terriers into badger homes, or setts, where they hold at bay any animal they find. This was updated in 2011 adding extra offences and powers of enforcement. Badger-baiting has been illegal in Ireland for almost 200 years - there are now concerns there has been a resurgence. Badger-baiting has been illegal in Ireland for almost 200 years - there are now concerns there has been a resurgence. ACTION ALERTS . The Northern Ireland Badger Group who were made aware of the attack, said the badgers are “especially vulnerable at this time of the year as many setts will contain defenceless cubs”. Badgers do not deserve to die in such a cruel way to satisfy unkind humans! In March 2013, 108 TDs (including current Taoiseach/Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney) shamefully rejected a proposed amendment to the Animal Welfare Bill which sought to outlaw digging-out, terrierwork, foxhunting … The badger-baiting gang digging into a sett to recover their dogs ... location in Northern Ireland. In badger baiting terriers are typically involved in the digging and are sent into badger setts with radio collars to locate the badgers. If you have any information about animal fighting you should report your suspicions to the Gardai or the ISPCA. Baiting is quite widespread across Northern Ireland, with thousands of badgers being killed this way … Sign our petition: "Irish Government: Save foxes and dogs from horrific cruelty" Tweet. Please read the Sunday Times report at: www.timesonline.co.uk. However, dog and cock fighting and also badger baiting are still occurring in Ireland. A baiting session typically results in the death of the badger, and often serious injuries to the dogs as well. Illegal Interference With Setts can cause delays to works, generate negative publicity This horrendous activity is particularly prevalent in Northern Ireland and therefore the League Against Cruel Sports has highlighted it as one of our … Generally, trapping occurs where something or someone or something is being "protected" (crops, “game” birds) or there is a government license involved (badger … The illegal persecution of badgers by baiting, setting traps and disturbing setts is happening on an almost weekly basis in Northern Ireland, a new study has found. The ISPCA believes that the numbers of terriers discovered with these characteristic injuries is indicative of the prevalence of the illegal practice of badger baiting in Ireland. The European badger (Meles meles), also known as the Eurasian badger, is a badger species in the family Mustelidae native to almost all of Europe and some parts of Western Asia.It is classified as least concern on the IUCN Red List as it has a wide range and a large … Badger-baiting or badger baiting is a blood sport in which badgers are baited.A baiting session typically results in the death of the badger, and possibly serious injuries to the dogs. badger baiting to avoidable sett disturbance/ ... Northern Ireland in 1985 under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985. Instances of gangs ‘posting with impunity’ on social media has led to a greater-than-ever prevalence of badger baiting, as well as deer, hare and bird poaching. While badgers are targeted and attacked by illegal gangs, the dogs used in badger baiting can end up badly injured as well. Police and the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) carried out five searches in County Down over recent weeks as part of a UK wide The newspaper has found that, despite being illegal, badger baiting is "practised in almost every town in Ireland, both north and south" but that "there appears to be little or no enforcement of animal welfare and wildlife laws" in the Republic. Badger Baiting was made illegal in 1835 and is currently an offence under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, but it has never died out. Groups of men involved in badger baiting across Northern Ireland are using social media to boast about the number of animals killed in the sickening activity, the USPCA has said. Badger baiting is illegal. The group also claimed that the ongoing TB debate – in which badgers are blamed for spreading the disease top cattle – “encourages illegal … Will you join me in urging the Irish Government in cracking down on badger baiting? Will you join me in urging the Irish Government in cracking down on badger baiting? The dog handlers then dig towards the sound of the barking, until they trap the cornered animal. We normally only encounter the aftermath of these activities in the form of injured dogs. Badger baiting is a bloodsport in which people set dogs on badgers. A source said: ‘Gardaí recognised two of the men as being well-known drug dealers from the … Adding to the evidence, Taro Naw recently discovered a website on the internet advertising illegal badger-baiting "holidays" in Ireland and west Wales, with the slogan, "We breed 'em, you bait 'em". And then there are badger-baiters. Sadly, the reality is that, unlike badger baiting, fox baiting remains legal under current legislation. In modern times, badger baiting has come into popularity among blood sport fans. Please sign and share the petition. Badger Baiting. Badgers do not deserve to die in such a cruel way to satisfy unkind humans! 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