Wildlife Hospital ‘Devastated’ By New Law Implications

Staff at the Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital say they are devastated they can no longer care for injured muntjac deers or grey squirrels.

It’s because of a new law relating to the animals, which are classed as ‘invasive alien species.’

The Kibworth-based charity could only continue taking-in and treating the animals if they remained caged on the premises for the remainder of their lives, which is not financially and practically possible, as they are no longer allowed to be released back into the wild.

Up until now the hospital has had a licence to treat and release a set number of grey squirrels and muncjac deers per year.

Volunteers at the hospital will now have no choice but to euthanise the animals if they are sent to them for care, which goes completely against their ethos.

Amy Ducker from the Wildlife Hospital spoke to Hfm:

The RSPCA said it was “extremely disappointed” that licences to release grey squirrels and muntjac back to the wild after rehabilitation are not being re-issued.

The charity said it supports some aspects of the legislation but ultimately it will “result in the needless destruction of animals”.

The government agency Defra says such animals threaten native biodiversity.

A spokesman said: “Invasive non-native species such as grey squirrel and muntjac deer threaten our native biodiversity and cost the economy £1.8b a year.

“The Government is committed to ensuring the wide ranging impacts of invasive non-native species are reduced, and this order is an important tool to achieve this aim.”