New U.K. Legislation Makes Compassion for Animals a Crime
The UK legislation fails to take the many nuances of the issues related to invasive animal species into consideration. Instead, it adheres to a simple narrative: native good, invasive bad.
RAE GELLEL: ‘The New Invasive Species Order, legislation introduced by the U.K.’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, criminalises the rescue of non-native species. Previously, the rehabilitation and release of injured or orphaned non-native animals, such as grey squirrels and muntjac deer, was allowed in limited numbers through a licensing system. Rescue centres were informed in December of 2018 that their “rehabilitate and release” licenses would be revoked at the end of April, 2019. The centres would have little future choice but to euthanise perfectly treatable animals.
An ensuing outcry and campaign, including a petition of over 60,000 signatures, led to a “stay of execution” that extended the centres’ existing licenses until October of 2019. The government also offered a second concession by granting licenses to keep, but not release, non-native species once the legislation took effect. In July of 2019, the U.K. government further extended the expiration date of the “rehabilitate and release” licenses, to December 1st, 2019. Although the Order is already in effect, the full devastation of its consequences will likely not be felt until spring—the thick of breeding season for species such as grey squirrels…
The legislation fails to take the many nuances of the issues related to invasive species into consideration. Instead, it adheres to a simple narrative: native good, invasive bad. Crucially, the U.K. Parliament also neglects to consider the ethical implications of preventing rescue. The legislation causes distress to members of the public unable to take orphaned or injured grey squirrels to their nearest wildlife rescue centres or veterinarians, for fear that the creatures will be euthanised, and distress to animal care professionals forced to either carry out euthanasia on treatable animals or face prosecution.
It is unprecedented in U.K. law to force people to choose between legality and morality in this way. Animals will suffer and die as a result of the Order, or, at best, spend their lives in captivity. Many “invasive” species were introduced to the U.K. by human activity—let’s not now vilify these same species for circumstances that we humans orchestrated’. SOURCE…
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