RSPCA fears animal cruelty will spike again during second lockdown
A charity fears animal cruelty will rise as England goes into its second lockdown.
New RSPCA data revealed it received reports of more than 2,200 incidents of cruelty to wildlife in 2020, with numbers spiking in May.
They included 84 in the West Midlands, 34 in Worcestershire and 44 in Staffordshire.
In the West Midlands it included 28 of illegal activity and 56 of intentional harm. In Staffordshire it included 14 of illegal activity and 30 of intentional harm.
And in Worcestershire it included 19 of illegal activity and 15 of intentional harm.
From hunting and fighting to beating and mutilation, incidents of ‘illegal activity’ and ‘intentional harm’ to wild animals started rising at the start of the lockdown in March with 194 incidents peaking in May with 381.
The charity is concerned that as the nation goes into lockdown again and everything shuts down, some may turn to this barbaric behaviour for 'entertainment' and incidents may rise.
RSPCA national wildlife co-ordinator, Geoff Edmond, said: “Our data shows that reports of cruelty to wildlife surged during the first lockdown. We fear a similar peak could happen all over again during this second lockdown, as some people again look for savage ways to pass the time.
“Our inspectors see first-hand the suffering inflicted by criminals on animals through wildlife crime such as badger baiting, dog fighting, hare coursing and trapping birds.
“We have seen some particularly distressing incidents in recent months, such as a magpie shot with a crossbow and two hedgehogs doused in fuel and burned alive.
"Police forces have reported a rise in anti-social behaviour during the first lockdown, when pressures and frustrations led to more of this type of crime, and we fear it may lead to some seeking ‘entertainment’ through these sorts of barbaric incidents involving wildlife.
“There is no place for cruelty to animals in today’s society and we urge anyone who spots anything suspicious when out on their daily exercise or sees anything online to report it to the RSPCA’s cruelty line or their local police force.”
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care, visit www.rspca.org.uk/give or call the donation line on 0300 1238181.
