Wildlife fear over callous rearing of game for sport

A new report by Animal Aid warns the shooting industry and the release of millions of pheasant and partridges each year is killing the countryside

The release of 40-60 million pheasant and partridges each year - bred to be shot for sport - is having a devastating impact on the British countryside and is threatening native wildlife, warns a new report.

Beyond what welfare group Animal Aid say is “terrible harm inflicted on the birds” who are raised on intensive factory farms, there are also serious repercussions for native wildlife leading to declines in their populations. It is of particular concern as the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world.

They also warn that gamekeepers also target animals deemed a threat to these birds – foxes, crows and even protected raptors – to create an artificial landscape for those paying to shoot innocent birds for sport.

They have joined together with TV presenter Chris Packham who said the environmental fallout is profound – land and waterways polluted with lead shot, native plants depleted and the risk of avian flu spread.

Chris said: “These birds are not native to the UK, and many of them are ‘factory farmed’ – bred to be shot. The sheer scale of these mass releases is truly astounding and should alarm anyone who cares about Britain’s wildlife.

"The UK is one of the most nature-depleted nations on the planet -we need to urgently preserve our biodiversity. If we don’t, the consequences will be irreversible and dire.”