RSPCA reveals extent of weapon attacks on animals

Charity releases shocking figures - but that's not the real story...

Hunting, shooting, culling, baiting, lamping, coursing: the UK's wild animals are targeted by humans using many different cruel methods. And now the RSPCA has revealed that a variety of lethal weapons are being used to kill animals at alarming rates.

Between 2020 and 2023, the charity stated that it received 896 reports relating to animals being intentionally harmed with weapons - including crossbows, catapults, air guns and slingshots. It has seen a 23% year-on-year increase in the total number of animals attacked in this way.

They warned that rising rates of animal abuse in England and Wales are being fuelled by social media, with perpetrators sharing videos and photos of dead and injured wildlife and pets.

The charity expressed its concern over the number of incidents of animal cruelty in Kent - the county with the biggest number of attacks on animals using these lethal weapons. 61 of the 896 attacks took place in the county.

Youths attacking animals

What makes the RSPCA's figures so shocking is the fact that the attacks often took place in built-up towns, and often by youths. KentOnline has reported on some of the incidents, including:

• a fox who had to be put down in May after she was shot with a catapult by a group of teenagers in Chatham;

• a group of eight boys killing pigeons and ducks with catapults, and then kicking and throwing a duck against a wall in Maidstone;

• the seizure of two catapults and 62 ball bearings by police, belonging to two boys in Paddock Wood after they were reported to have been attacking wildlife;

• a suspected attack on a mallard duck in Faversham. The duck was found lying dead next to her nine eggs.

Wild birds were the most targeted - there were 214 reports of attacks on them using deadly weapons. On top of these attacks on wild animals, there have been a large number of attacks on pet cats throughout the UK using weapons such as catapults.

Let's feel outrage for ALL cruelty, not just some

The public has, quite rightly, expressed its horror about these attackas But while we feel outrage as we read about these appalling incidents, let's not forget the millions more beings who die every year - and who barely make a news headline unless it's to 'glorify' their killing.

Take Red Grouse, for example. The RSPCA's latest figures pale in comparison to the number of grouse shot on moors. The world's most privileged humans shoot up to half a million of the birds between the ‘Inglorious' 12th of August and December each year. Where is the outrage - and the call for donations - from the RSPCA as grouse shooting season begins?

And then there's the huge number of birds that are legally killed by landowners under General Licence in the UK to allegedly prevent damage to crops, or prevent the spread of disease. In England, Defra issues General Licences for humans to shoot a long list of birds, such as Carrion Crows, Magpies - and of course Wood Pigeons...

Pigeons killed using catapults. Photo by RSPCA

General Licences - a charter to kill wildlife

As we outline on our page General Licences and the Law,

"General Licences are wide-ranging, easy to get hold of, and – in reality – exist in name only."

Meanwhile, Protect the Wild's Head of Operations, Charlie Moores, said of the latest RSPCA report:

"The birds shown in one of the images are on the General Licence and can be shot all year round on farms. No-one bats an eyelid about that. Young idiots with catapults kill the same bird  - outrage. Even worse, when shooters travel around the world to shoot doves and pigeons in Argentina and South Africa it's called 'sport'."

While Protect the Wild applauds the RSPCA as it speaks out against some types of animal cruelty, we urge the charity to stand against ALL types of animal abuse. After all, its website's headlines currently read, "no animal deserves cruelty", while the charity states that it wants to "inspire everyone to create a better world for every animal."

• Images via RSPCA

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