EU Regulation 1143/2014 the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 will come into force on 28 March 2019, a day before the UK is scheduled to leave the EU. This Regulation will prevent the keeping and release of non-indigenous ‘Alien Species’ such as grey squirrels and muntjac deer.
At present Natural England issues licences to allow for these animals to be kept and released in areas of England where they pose no threat to native species. This system has worked well for many years. Most large wildlife rescue centres in the south of England are licensed to treat and release, once healthy, set numbers of these animals, many of which are orphans, rescued by concerned members of the public. At the end of March however, under the new EU system, all rescue centres and veterinary surgeons in the UK will be required to euthanise animals bought to them. The result will be that any member of the public who finds a grey squirrel, muntjac deer or other ‘alien species’ and takes it to a centre will either be turned away, or the animal will be euthanised, no matter how healthy it is.
As wildlife rescue practitioners, veterinarians and animal welfare advocates we are asking MPs to reject these regulations and continue the current system for several reasons:
- They are detrimental to the welfare of established British wildlife and animals will suffer unnecessarily.
- The policy will drive the treatment and rehabilitation of grey squirrels and other non-indigenous species underground, forcing amateur animal-lovers to keep the animals themselves, rather than risk them being euthanised. Consequently, there is a real risk to animal welfare.
- The policy will have no impact on populations of non-indigenous species, as the number of animals released under the current licensing system are insignificant in terms of overall numbers.
- The policy will create public disaffection at a time when wildlife needs to be protected, not persecuted. In just a few weeks in December 2018, over 20,000 people had signed a petition opposing the regulations.
- Enforcement of the regulations will be a waste of public resources. The current licencing system works well and should be continued.
Signatories: Simon Cowell, Founder and CEO, The Wildlife Aid Foundation. Louisa Cowell, Deputy CEO, The Wildlife Aid Foundation. Pauline Kidner, Founder and Advisor, Secret World Wildlife Rescue. Lesley Browne, CEO, Secret World Wildlife Rescue. Elizabeth Mullineaux, BVM&S, DVM&S, CertSHP, MRCVS, RCVS Recognised Specialist in Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian). Richard Edwards MRCVS, Director, AlphaPet Veterinary Clinics. Natalia Doran, Founder, Urban Squirrels. Dave Risley, Director, The Folly Wildlife Rescue Trust.
This is the most ludicrous piece of bureacracy.Who is this petition being sent to – is anyone likely tolisten and take an interest?
MY HEART IS BREAKING READING THIS. IN SHOCK ACTUALY. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN. TOO EUTHANASE HEALTHY ANIMALS IS DISGUSTING UNETHICAL AND MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.. POOR ANIMALS. SO IN A WORLD OFF TREMENDOUS SUFFERING ALREADY AND SO MUCH CRUELTY THE GOVERNEMENT IS SAYING SCREW COMPASSION AND PROTECTION AND LETS JUST KILL FOR THE SAKE OFF KILLING DEFENSELESS BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS. GREAT ROLE MODELS!!!!!!! NO WAY. THIS NEW LEGISLATION IS A CRIMIE ALONE IT SHOULD AND NEEDS TO BE STOPPED. WHERE IS THE COMPASSION HERE. TOO MANY PEOPE IN HIGH PLACES HAVE LOST THERE WAY AND MORAL COMPASS CLEARLY. OUR EARTH IS BLEEDING SO MUCH AS IT IS AND NOW MORE BLOOD IS GOING TOO SUFFOCATE IT BY COVERING IT WITH UNECCASSARY INNOCENT ANIMAL DEATHS…WHAT A LOVELY IMAGE TO SHOW THE KIDS OF TODAY. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AS FOR THE DEFINITION ALIENS SPECIES SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHEN WILL SOME PEOPE REALISE THAT ANIMALS WERE HERE FIRST ON EARTH AND HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE FREE AND RIGHT TO MEDICAL TREATMENT NO MATTER WHAT SPECIES THEY ARE. IN AN IDEAL WORLD WE WOULD LOVE FOR ALL ANIMALS TO BE PROTECTED UNDER LAW FROM THE HANDS OFF HUMANS . IT IS TIME TO START DOING THIS. THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN ANIMALS WILL GET REVENGE AND BE AT THE TOP OFF THE PYRAMID ONCE MORE BECUASE HUMANITY IS TURNING MORE AND MORE AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER AND DESTROYING EACHOTHER OVER PETTINESS, GREED , ACTING TERRITORIAL and so many other reasons. IT IS VERY VERY SAD. The world is over populated by humans. FACT. SEEMS LIKE NO ANIMALS, NO PEOPLE ARE SAFE MOST OFF THE TIME NOW. IT IS MADDNESS AND VERY TROUBLING. peace and compassion can never be restored when wars are created time and time again over nothing but giant egos. INNOCENT ANIMALS GET KILLED IN WARS TOO as do innocent children and innocent people. SO THIS LEGISLATION JUST ADD TOO THAT AND IT IS VERY DEPRESSING NEWS…..It is hard enough for the sensitive folk who carry the weight off the world on there shoulders as it is too now carry this heart breaking news. IT MAKES US SO ANGRY JUST HOW MUCH CRUELTY AND EVIL THERE IS TOWARDS ANIMALS. PROTECT, PRESERVE AND GIVE TREATMENT SHOULD NEVER BE DISALLOWED FOR ANY ANIMAL. IMAGINE THIS LAW FOR PEOPLE BUT GUESS THE IDIOTS WHO CREATED THE LEGISLATION DID NOT AND VERY NARROW MINDED. HATE THEM..THEY HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE HERE AND I ASK ALL ANIMAL PEOPLE TOO KEEP FIGHTING BACK TILL WE WIN AND WE WILL. WE HAVE TO FOR THEM, THE BEATUIFUL CREATURES. THIS LAW IS DEEPLY IMMORAL
The government needs to rethink this law and come to its senses!
I pity the mother, who’s child finds a healthy, displaced baby squirrel and the conversation she will have to have with her child. That this tiny life is not worth saving. Not worth sharing space with. Not worthy of a chance at life. That child will be taught that there is only compassion for ‘certain’ animals.
This type of conditional thinking will be a learned trait in this child. When this child matures, she will have less compassion for the world and all its inhabitants.
What kind of future is waiting for us, when the upcoming leaders of this world grow up learning it’s OK to destroy lives due to specific demographics? It wouldn’t be a far stretch to say that this thinking will follow through unto other races of humans as well.
Please reconsider the long term effects of this law and who the law is really hurting.
Breaks my heart. Grey squirrels and muntjac deer did not ask to be brought to this country by humans. They have been here a great deal longer than immigrant humans – are they next? I don’t care what colour the squirrels in my area are – they are sweet and beautiful. Muntjac deer are the only wild deer there are where I live so now they too will be gone thanks to politicians. Canada geese – they come and go with migration – leave them alone!
You have misinterpreted this legislation, which has been changed since it was proposed in Dec 2018. It finally came into force in Dec 2019 and has been amended so that wildlife rescue centres do not have to euthanase injured grey squirrels.They can apply for licences to keep them in secure accommodation.In fact anyone can do this.Details on government website. I assume a large charity like Secret World will be doing so.Hopefully in the near future the legislation will be rescinded. It is unenforceable anyway as people will look after and release injured animals themselves , as this does not require a licence!