• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Pheasants are being raised in ‘cruel’ and ‘horrific’ conditions. But one group is fighting back

Glen Black by Glen Black
7 October 2017
in Environment, Other News & Features, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
161 12
A A
0
Home Other News & Features Environment
321
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It’s a spectacular bird that seems like an icon of the British countryside. But two animal rights organisations have recently published undercover footage revealing pheasants bred in factory farm conditions. And one has announced a campaign to start taking action.

Cruel conditions for pheasants

Animal Aid published undercover footage on 23 August detailing “game bird cruelty” by game bird rearing company Heart of England Farms Ltd in Warwickshire. Concerns include dead pheasants left in breeding trays, suspected illegal beak restraints and emaciated birds. And partridges are filmed in ‘barren’ cages rather than ‘enriched’ cages, which would include [pdf, p11] perches and hiding spots.

On 30 September the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) released footage from undercover investigations at Knowle Game Farm in Kent. And it shows conditions similar to Animal Aid’s investigation, including tiny barren cages, beak restraints and birds attacking each other because of stress.

In 2010 the outgoing Labour government attempted to legislate against the raised barren cages seen in both investigations. But pro-hunting groups, including the Countryside Alliance and the Game Farmers’ Association, succeeded in encouraging the new Conservative farming minister to drop the plans.

‘No concerns’

Responding to Animal Aid’s investigation, a spokesman for Heart of England Farms told The Mirror that:

We are visited weekly by a game bird vet — while the Animal and Plant Health Agency have the visited site. These professionals have no concerns with our practices…

And KentOnline reports Knowle Game Farm as saying they have:

… 25 years experience in the industry and their number one priority always has been the bird’s health and welfare. They accused the Hunt Saboteurs’ investigators of killing birds and said the farm was aware of the dumping of dead birds which occurred earlier this year and it took action at the time.

Fighting back through direct action

Pheasants are semi-wild creatures. And one common result of their artificial upbringing is millions being killed by motorists each year as they do not have time to develop an understanding of roads.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation suggests that shooting is “the management of game such as pheasants and partridges”. But the HSA has launched a campaign to “[lay] bare what really lies beyond the shooting industry’s propaganda”.

We're launching a fresh campaign against the vast and horrific shooting industry. Please tip us off with any infohttps://t.co/0wpylCssVe

— Hunt Saboteurs Association (@HuntSabs) October 1, 2017

The direct action network has asked for tip-offs and information about game farms and shoots. It says:

Together we can put an end to this vast, horrific industry.

With decades of direct action success, the HSA is one group that might get the shooting industry looking over its shoulder.

Get Involved!

– Contact the HSA with any information you have about game farms and shooting near you.

– Learn more about game shooting with Animal Aid.

– Read more from The Canary about Game Shooting.

Featured image via Wikimedia

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Theresa May breathes her last… [CARTOON]

Next Post

When faced with some difficult questions, this Tory minister’s silence over the DWP was deafening [VIDEO]

Next Post
David Gauke Tory Minister

When faced with some difficult questions, this Tory minister's silence over the DWP was deafening [VIDEO]

Lewis Oakley Bisexual

Society is 'failing' bisexual people in 'just about every way'. But one man wants to change that

One woman’s exceptional story is being told across the country. And its timing is absolutely perfect

One woman’s exceptional story is being told across the country. And its timing is absolutely perfect

The week in satire Vol. #48

The week in satire Vol. #48

Theresa May Conservative

There's been a 'significant' change in the Brexit talks that's very bad news for Theresa May

DWP open source banking
Analysis

The DWP is quietly trying to get a private company to connect it to disabled people’s bank accounts

by Steve Topple
20 May 2025
gideon's chariots Gaza
Analysis

Gideon’s Chariots: leaked plan shows Israel intentionally pushing Gaza to famine and forced displacement

by Alaa Shamali
20 May 2025
Gideon's Chariots Gaza
Analysis

“عربات جدعون.. مخطط إسرائيلي يقود غزة نحو مجاعة مُمنهجة وتهجير قسري

by Alaa Shamali
20 May 2025
Our friends at Pauzeradio have got the perfect Reggae clothing line for this summer
Lifestyle

Our friends at Pauzeradio have got the perfect Reggae clothing line for this summer

by Steve Topple
20 May 2025
trade unions protest
News

Trade unions urged “to take the lead in forming a new working-class party”

by Ed Sykes
20 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

DWP open source banking
Analysis
Steve Topple

The DWP is quietly trying to get a private company to connect it to disabled people’s bank accounts

gideon's chariots Gaza
Analysis
Alaa Shamali

Gideon’s Chariots: leaked plan shows Israel intentionally pushing Gaza to famine and forced displacement

Gideon's Chariots Gaza
Analysis
Alaa Shamali

“عربات جدعون.. مخطط إسرائيلي يقود غزة نحو مجاعة مُمنهجة وتهجير قسري

Lifestyle
Steve Topple

Our friends at Pauzeradio have got the perfect Reggae clothing line for this summer

ADVERTISEMENT
Analysis
Nathan Spears

Vote for the Press Photograph of the Year 2024

Image by Burkard Meyendriesch from Pixabay
Feature
Nathan Spears

Why Santiago Ways is the Leading Choice for Walking the Camino de Santiago

Environment
Nathan Spears

EU elections point to growing public desire for new policymaking approach in Brussels