[Image credit: @suffolkandessexhuntsabs]
December is the busiest time in the fox and hare hunting calendar. In the run up to Christmas and until the festive break finishes in the new year, hunts can easily bump their numbers up in the form of foot followers and mounted riders. The latter is arguably more important to them as they pay to participate and securing this income stream is vital for the longevity of the hunt. The increased numbers also boost morale and often results is more boisterous, arrogant and, where they see fit, violent behaviour. Saboteurs and the wider anti-hunting community also rally together in bigger numbers and are more active during this period, which has had a mixture of results with far too many reports to include. But here are some highlights.
The tyres of Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs were found slashed one morning before heading out but were still able to get a team out to the Grove and Rufford Hunt thanks to the assistance of Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs. Frustration got the better of one member of the hunt who stole equipment and, when confronted, headbutted a member of the team, but finished the day without a kill.
South Thames Hunt Saboteurs seemingly received the worst of the violence after they were attacked by the Hursley Hambledon Hunt after their attempts to hunt and kill a fox were ruined. According to their reports, a team of 3 were set upon by 9 and resulted in one of their team needing medical attention due to a serious head wound, while another came away with a swollen face and black eye. A camera and mobile phone were also stolen. Though it was a traumatic experience, they later published their appreciation for the ‘overwhelming’ support they had received since publishing what had happened, as well as starting an online fundraiser. They initially wanted to raise £320 to replace the stolen equipment and to purchase a quality first aid kit but had reached £8000, which they state will be used to buy a vehicle for their new group. In a final update, they announced they were no longer accepting donations and strongly encouraged generosity to continue elsewhere, suggesting foodbanks, other sabotage groups and etc, but specifically highlighted the support needed for Happy Pants Ranch. The sabotage group concluded; ‘we make our intentions clear and known; we will not stop until hunting is finished. It is what the community wants and it is what wildlife deserves.’
It is widely believed that the behaviour of the Hursley Hambledon Hunt was also due to being caught killing a deer the week before, as seen by South Hampshire Hunt Saboteurs and has prompted attention by the police. South Wales Hunt Saboteurs also reported a fox had been killed by the Sennybridge Farmers and it was sudden. Another deer was also killed after they were quickly and unexpectedly mauled by hounds of the Thurlow Hunt despite the efforts of multiple sabotage groups present. Suffolk and Essex Hunt Saboteurs also reported that a deer was found dead in a woodland with fresh injuries after hounds of the Essex and Suffolk Hunt left. These are all examples that reaffirm the difficulty of sabotaging a hunt as well as how quickly it can escalate and how against the odds it can be for wildlife. The reality is that not all wildlife can escape this fate because of the presence of saboteurs. However, without them, many more would be condemned to death.
The vast majority of sabotage groups, if not all, were active on Boxing Day, which is the biggest day in the hunting calendar. Despite the challenges this comes with, as mentioned before, efforts against hunting were largely successful. Some were even reduced to stick to trail hunting; salt in the wound for those bitter about the changing landscape of hunting in recent years. Some violence was reported, including Brighton Hunt Saboteurs who were ridden at and whipped, as well as the Wight Hunt Saboteurs who were also ridden at and assaulted by a hunt supporter. Seemingly, levels of violence and aggression were relatively tame in comparison to previous years, though the usual pushing-and-shoving continued – especially during the parading of hounds where saboteurs and protesters continued to maintain a presence. Protesting the boxing day hunt has been a regular tactic for decades and usually attracts media attention and gives an opportunity for members of the public to show their disgust the ongoing persecution of wildlife. Specifically, pressure continued to be mounted on the hunts who are subject to dedicated campaigns against them, including Mendip Farmers Hunt, Cottesmore Hunt and Kent Hounds, though protests and sabotage against hunts was seen all across the UK with too many to mention. Though fox hunting is largely the focus of the day, hare hunting was also targeted, as seen by North Down Hunt Saboteurs who packed up Christchurch and Farley Hill Beagles as well as the Lake District Hunt Saboteurs who foiled the plans of the Black Combe Beagles. Cheshire Monitors also packed up the Cheshire Beagles who were caught hunting an exhausted Hare.
Other hare hunting packs have also been paid attention throughout December. The De Burgh and North Essex Hare Hounds, who have been successfully targeted a number of times in November, have continued to be stopped throughout this month by Suffolk and Essex Hunt Saboteurs, along with neighbouring groups. The Hunley Beagles were also visited by the East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Saboteurs, who quickly packed up on the arrival of opposition. Likewise, Severn Vale Hunt Saboteurs foiled the Severn Vale Beagles. But it didn’t stop there. Hare hunters were foiled right until the end of the month, as seen by Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs who packed up the Royal Agricultural College Beagles on the 30th and a joint meet of the Radley College Beagles and the New Forest Beagles on the 31st, sabotaged by a number of groups.
It is worth noting that hare-hunting foot packs are especially vulnerable to sabotage as they have a diminishing support network, made worse by a lack of a reliable income stream and is generally seen as more controversial than fox hunting. It is believed that the guidance given to these packs by their governing body is to cease their activity and leave on the arrival of saboteurs. And that is exactly what they do. Therefore, simply turning up is enough to stop them.
The festive period is seen as a middle point for the fox and hare hunting season. As the vast majority of sabotage groups have remained consistently active for months (not including cub and leveret hunting), it is understandable that some are feeling tired. Messages of support, donations and purchases of merchandise go a long way in showing appreciation for what they do.
Any information about hunts or shoots, wildlife killing fundraisers, the location of traps, tools and infrastructure used to kill and anything dodgy or suspicious relating to the interference or ill-treatment of wildlife should be reported to your local hunt sabotage group. Unsure of your local group? Contact the Hunt Saboteurs Association’s tip-off line at 07443148426 or via social media. The smallest bit of information could make the biggest different to wildlife life.
NO LIFE LIKE THE WILD
