The UK Government has today launched its highly anticipated Animal Welfare Strategy for England 2025. According to Ministers, the strategy aims to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation. The new strategy includes a broad suite of initiatives affecting pets, farmed animals, laboratory animals and wildlife.

Key measures within the strategy aimed at reducing harms to wild animals include proposals to ban trail hunting in England and Wales and close loopholes in the Hunting Act that have enabled hunts to continue killing wild animals with dogs, fulfilling a clear manifesto commitment. Born Free, as a member of the Time for Change Coalition, has long called for such reforms.

The introduction of a close season for the shooting of hares in England and Wales will help prevent the starvation of many thousands of dependent leverets and help fragile populations recover. Hares are currently the only ‘game’ species that are not protected against being shot for sport during their breeding season. Born Free has been working with Parliamentarians to secure a close season for many years, in order to address animal suffering and bring England and Wales into line with Scotland, Northern Ireland and most of the rest of Europe.