You really couldn’t make this up. The UK has gone completely bonkers.
“Natural England has given permission for the destruction of 4,500 Mallard eggs over three years to prevent ducks “walking out in front of cyclists” and causing accidents.”
Mallard
Environmental campaigner Jason Endfield unearthed the licenses through a Freedom of Information request.
The licences to destroy Mallard eggs primarily cover the counties of Suffolk and Bedfordshire, although exact locations have been redacted from the Natural England data.
The Bedfordshire licence applicant said the Mallard population had risen dramatically and noted that they congregated around seating areas.
Other reasons cited were “faeces around seating areas” and the risk of collisions between birds and cyclists.
Natural England issued the first licence to destroy 500 eggs in Bedfordshire in 2016, with a second licence awarded in 2018 allowing the destruction of a further 1,000 eggs. Officials have also rubber-stamped applications to destroy 500 more eggs this year and another 500 next year, the documents show. In Suffolk in 2017-18, Natural England gave the green light to destroy 2,000 Mallard eggs and 300 geese eggs, according to the papers.
Endfield, who also brought to light in recent months Natural England’s decision to issue licences allowing the killing of Brent Geese and endangered gulls, said: “I am struggling to find the words to express my disbelief and despair that Natural England decision makers thought it appropriate in any way to issue a licence to an applicant that seriously considered ducks to be a threat to cyclists.
“Surely someone at the agency should have challenged this stupidity at an early stage rather than proceed to issue a licence that legitimised the wanton destruction of wild birds eggs for such spurious reasons.”
Natural England was unable to comment due to electoral purdah, but pointed out that a successful applicant must provide evidence that the species targeted is causing a problem; that non-lethal alternatives have been tried; that the action is proportionate and that the species' conservation status will not be negatively affected.
Comments please. Or, write to your MP, hopefully the new one who will soon replace one of the 650 clowns currently in Westminster.
Read the comments on Jason's Blog - Comments.
Linking today with Eileen's Saturday Blog and Anni in Texas.
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17 comments:
Hello Natural England: Permit me to introduce myself. i am Michael the Mallard, and it has been drawn to my attention that once again you are embarking on an unjust, ill-conceived and unwarranted plan of destruction of our unborn young. Perhaps there are even pro-life people who are willing participants in this genocide. It confounds us that you come to our ponds to see us, bring your children and grandchildren to meet us, feed us bread and other unhealthy foods, ooh and ahh over our beauty, do your best to have us pose for pictures, often with your obnoxious kids who take vicious delight in chasing us, ride your bicycles (often at unsafe speeds I might add) in front of us, and then have the audacity, the unbridled arrogance, to say that we should be prevented from having families for daring to walk in front of you. It is avian genocide by any other name. And you think you are the smart ones?
I like it David. Thank you.
Excellent comment David.
Phil you are to be congratulated for flagging up this one. I think we already knew the UK was going bonkers or perhaps I should say our politicians are. At the end of the day they oversea such matters so need I say more. I am lucky enough to live by some water bodies and ducks in the road, especially in spring, are not uncommon. The local/highway authority has erected duck warning signage at higher risk locations but there are a few casualties every year, always ducks and never cyclists. I am sorry but a single duck, an entire flock, or a female with ducklings should be the least of a cyclists’ concerns compared to other hazards. I just hope this one doesn’t end up in the cul-de-sac of fake news.
… and it's not only the UK that seems to get more bonkers over things!
Loved David's comment, very well done.
All the best Jan
PS Sorry to read in your comment on the low carb diabetic that Sue has had some health issues... sending my good wishes.
The UK going bonkers, so it is not just the USA. I think the priority should be about the ducks being run over. Couldn't they find a way to help the ducks first? I like David's comment, well said. Thank you for linking up! Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend.
Genocide will not solve the problem, anyway...
Wishing you a nice weekend.
This just doesn't make any sense at all. How sad that someone takes up and cause like this....and SADDER that it succeeds! Thanks for bring it to our attention!
We had a similar situation in Colorado when Bud & I lived there. With Canada Geese. (They remained there year around...no migrstion) and the population got "out of hand" according to politicians. Curbing reproduction did NOT accomplish anything, and "mass murders" are truly uncalled for.
Hope the Brits come to their senses before it's too late to reverse the error of ways.
To u was też są "mądrzy" ludzie, którzy uważają, że są mądrzejsi od natury? WSZYSTKIE problemy związane z ptakami znikną w chwili, gdy z Ziemi znikną ...ludzie!
Thank you Ludmila - translation - Are you also "smart" people who think that they are smarter than nature? ALL problems related to birds will disappear when the Earth disappears ... people!
Sounds like something the US would do - I keep reading horrible things that are going on to "eliminate unwanted" wildlife. Makes me angry.
This is a very sad commentary on the state of our world. There is no regard for life at any level.
I honestly thought this was a repost from April 1st. I am lost for words at the stupidity of this organisation.
What the ... heck?!
Sigh, sigh, sigh. I will have my hubby write his MP asap.
Good grief. That's such a shame.
Thanks for linking up at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2019/11/urp.html
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