Hunt sabotage

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Hunt sabotage is the direct action that animal rights activists and animal liberation activists undertake to interfere with hunting activity. [1]

Contents

Description

Hunt sabotage, as carried out by anti-hunting campaigners, or hunt saboteurs, involves the use of a variety of tactics to prevent the killing of animals. Since the opposition to killing is generally on moral or ethical grounds, hunt sabotage takes place against both lawful and unlawful hunting activity. Tactics vary depending on the type of hunt that is being targeted. [2]

Conflicts between hunt saboteurs and hunt supporters

The actions of saboteurs often place them in direct confrontation with hunters and hunt supporters.

By country

In the United Kingdom the direct-action saboteurs are often members of the Hunt Saboteurs Association. Other groups such as the League Against Cruel Sports also carry out anti-hunting activities, generally through non-direct means, campaigning, publicity etc.

Every year in Spain, organisations such as Equanimal or the platform Matar por matar, non [21] are involved in the sabotage of the Copa Nacional de Caza del Zorro (Spanish: "National Fox Hunt Cup") following the hunters making noise with megaphones to scare foxes and preventing them from being killed. [22] [23]

In Ireland the Hunt Saboteurs Ireland [24] , founded in 2019, aims to sabotage fox hunting and other forms of wildlife persecution such as lamping.

In Sweden, the Hunt Saboteurs Sweden take direct action against hunting in Sweden and Norway, especially wolf hunting. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting</span> Searching, pursuing, and killing wild animals

Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products, for recreation/taxidermy, although it may also be done for resourceful reasons such as removing predators dangerous to humans or domestic animals, to eliminate pests and nuisance animals that damage crops/livestock/poultry or spread diseases, for trade/tourism, or for ecological conservation against overpopulation and invasive species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox hunting</span> Traditional equestrian hunting activity

Fox hunting is a traditional activity involving the tracking, chase and, if caught, the killing of a fox, normally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds. A group of unarmed followers, led by a "master of foxhounds", follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotlighting</span> Method of hunting nocturnal animals

Spotlighting or lamping is a method of hunting nocturnal animals using off-road vehicles and high-powered lights, spotlights, lamps or flashlights, that makes special use of the eyeshine revealed by many animal species. A further important aspect is that many animals often remain to continually stare at the light, and do not appear to see the light as a threat, as they would a human. It is possible to carefully approach animals on foot to a short distance if bright light is continuously maintained on the animal, greatly improving chances of successful killing. Spotlighting may also be used as a method of surveying nocturnal fauna. Repeated, frequent spotlighting may have a detrimental effect on animals, and is discouraged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game (hunting)</span> Wild animals under pursuit or taken in hunting

Game or quarry is any wild animal hunted for animal products, for recreation ("sporting"), or for trophies. The species of animals hunted as game varies in different parts of the world and by different local jurisdictions, though most are terrestrial mammals and birds. Fish caught non-commercially are also referred to as game fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunt Saboteurs Association</span> UK anti-hunting organisation

The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) is a United Kingdom organisation that uses hunt sabotage as a means of direct action to stop fox hunting. It was founded in 1963, with its first sabotage event occurring at the South Devon Foxhounds on 26 December 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting Act 2004</span> United Kingdom legislation

The Hunting Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which bans the hunting of most wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, subject to some strictly limited exemptions; the Act does not cover the use of dogs in the process of flushing out an unidentified wild mammal, nor does it affect drag hunting, where hounds are trained to follow an artificial scent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pampas fox</span> Species of carnivore

The Pampas fox, also known as grey pampean fox, Pampas zorro, Azara's fox, or Azara's zorro, is a medium-sized zorro, or "false" fox, native to the South American Pampas. Azara in some of its alternative common names is a reference to Spanish naturalist Félix de Azara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoary fox</span> Species of carnivore

The hoary fox or hoary zorro, also known as raposinha-do-campo in Brazil, is a species of zorro or "false" fox endemic to Brazil. Unlike many other foxes, it feeds primarily on small invertebrates such as insects.

Legislation on hunting with dogs is in place in many countries around the world. Legislation may regulate, or in some cases prohibit the use of dogs to hunt or flush wild animal species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting and shooting in the United Kingdom</span>

In the United Kingdom, the term hunting with no qualification generally refers to hunting with hounds, e.g. normally fox hunting, stag (deer) hunting, beagling, or minkhunting, whereas shooting is the shooting of game birds. What is called deer hunting elsewhere is deer stalking. According to the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) over a million people a year participate in shooting, including stalking, shooting, hunting, clay shooting and target shooting. Firearm ownership is regulated in the UK by licensing. Provisions exist for those without a Firearm or Shotgun certificate to shoot under the supervision of a certificate holder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opposition to hunting</span> Movement against hunting

Opposition to hunting is espoused by people or groups who object to the practice of hunting, often seeking anti-hunting legislation and sometimes taking on acts of civil disobedience, such as hunt sabotage. Anti-hunting laws, such as the English Hunting Act 2004, are generally distinguishable from conservation legislation like the American Marine Mammal Protection Act by whether they seek to reduce or prevent hunting for perceived cruelty-related reasons or to regulate hunting for conservation, although the boundaries of distinction are sometimes blurred in specific laws, for example when endangered animals are hunted.

<i>Ultime grida dalla savana</i> 1975 Italian mondo film

Ultime grida dalla savana, also known as by its English title Savage Man Savage Beast, is a 1975 Italian mondo documentary film co-produced, co-written, co-edited and co-directed by Antonio Climati and Mario Morra. Filmed all around the world, its central theme focuses on hunting and the interaction between man and animal. Like many mondo films, the filmmakers claim to document real, bizarre and violent behavior and customs, although some scenes were actually staged. It is narrated by the Italian actor and popular dubber Giuseppe Rinaldi and the text was written by Italian novelist Alberto Moravia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otis Ferry</span> British model and fox hunting enthusiast

Charles Frederick Otis Ferry is a British model and pro-fox hunting enthusiast. He has served as joint master of the South Shropshire hunt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boar hunting</span> Hunting for wild boar or feral pigs

Boar hunting is the practice of hunting wild boar, feral pigs, warthogs, and peccaries. Boar hunting was historically a dangerous exercise due to the tusked animal's ambush tactics as well as its thick hide and dense bones rendering them difficult to kill with premodern weapons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabueso Español</span> Dog breed

The Sabueso Español or Spanish Hound is a scenthound breed with its origin in the far north of Iberian Peninsula. This breed has been used in this mountainous region since hundreds of years ago for all kind of game: wild boar, hare, brown bear, wolf, red deer, fox, roe deer and chamois. It is an exclusive working breed, employed in hunting with firearms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equanimal</span> Spanish non profit animal rights organization

Equanimal was a Spanish non-profit animal rights organization, formed as a merger, in 2006, of the organisations Alternativa para la Liberación Animal and Derechos para los Animales. In 2012, it merged with the International animal rights organization Animal Equality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cottesmore Hunt</span> Foxhound pack in Cottesmore, Britain

The Cottesmore Hunt, which hunts mostly in Rutland, is one of the oldest foxhound packs in Britain, with origins dating back to 1666. Its name comes from the village of Cottesmore where the hounds were kennelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunting in Australia</span>

Australia has a population of about 25 million, with the Commonwealth Government's 2019 survey estimating there are 640,000 recreational hunters in the country. There are around 5.8 million legally owned guns in Australia, ranging from airguns to single-shot, bolt-action, pump-action, lever-action or semi-automatic firearms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunt monitor</span>

In the United Kingdom, hunt monitors endeavour to observe behaviours of organized hunts and undertake information gathering activities, known as hunt monitoring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staghound</span> Extinct breed of scent hound

The Staghound, sometimes referred to as the English Staghound, is an extinct breed of scent hound from England. A pack hound, the breed was used to hunt red deer and became extinct in the 19th century when the last pack was sold.

References

  1. "What is hunt sabotage?". huntsabsireland.com.
  2. 1 2 Goldman, E (22 August 2022). The Traditional Art of Hunt Sabotage: A Tactics Manual. Independently published. ISBN   979-8472050968.
  3. "Sweden: Help Hunt Sabs Fight Against Wolf Cull". earthfirstjournal.news. 7 October 2022.
  4. "A Night with the Secretive Animal Rights Group Sabotaging England's Badger Cull". vice.com. 22 October 2022.
  5. "Hunting towers burned". North American Animal Liberation. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  6. "hunt-saboteurs-target-yorkshire-dales-grouse-shoots-on-glorious-12th". richmondshiretoday.co.uk. 13 August 2023.
  7. "HSA Tactics Book - Legal". Hunt Saboteurs Association. Archived from the original on 24 November 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  8. "Traps & Snares: Secret Sabotage". Hunt Saboteurs Association. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  9. Huskisson, Mike (1 December 1983). Outfoxed. Michael Huskisson Associates. ISBN   978-0950928401.
  10. Huskisson, Mike (28 February 2017). Outfoxed Again: Winning for Animals. Animal Welfare Information Service. ISBN   978-0993382215.
  11. "What an Animal Investigator Learned From 50 Years of Undercover Work". sentientmedia.org. 6 September 2022.
  12. "MASS CRIMINALITY IN HUNTING COMMUNITY REVEALED THROUGH LEAKED WEBINARS". huntsabs.org. 27 November 2020.
  13. "Herstmonceux: Hunt saboteur complains of assault and car damage". BBC. 4 January 2024.
  14. "Man jailed for Sibbertoft assault on hunt saboteur". BBC. 10 November 2024.
  15. "Two hunt saboteurs have been subjected to a terrifying ambush orchestrated by thugs from the Devon & Somerset Staghounds". huntsabs.org.uk. 23 July 2023.
  16. "Hunter arrested after attacking saboteur with a shovel". protectthewild.org.uk. 23 November 2023.
  17. "INVESTIGATION AFTER FEMALE HUNT SABS ASSAULTED". harboroughfm.co.uk. 12 January 2024.
  18. "Hunt saboteurs face 'violent rampage as homes targeted and car windows smashed'". independent.co.uk. 7 October 2023.
  19. "West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs persistently targeted, harassed and assaulted by police". https://netpol.org/ . 3 February 2023.{{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  20. "Hunt saboteur 'left to die' after being brutally beaten while confronting badger baiters". mirror.co.uk. 30 April 2021.
  21. "Equanimal se suma a la espantada del zorro el día de la copa nacional" [Equanimal joins the scare of the fox on the day of the national cup]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 8 February 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  22. Lombardero, Xavier (28 January 2008). "Incidentes entre cazadores de zorros y ecologistas acaban con un detenido" [Incidents between fox hunters and environmentalists end with one detainee]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  23. "«Es una matanza, no una competición deportiva», afirman los ecologistas" ["It is a slaughter, not a sporting competition," say environmentalists]. La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 24 January 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  24. https://huntsabsireland.com/about
  25. "FIGHT FOR THE WILDLIFE". firefund.net. 23 May 2023.

Further reading

Books