Wildlife legislations Flashcards
Name 3 species listed as ‘alien’ or invasive, under the Invasive Alien Species Order 2019
- Grey squirrel
- Egyptian geese
- Muntjac deer
Who has the right to claim ownership of any mute, unmarked swans that swim in open water?
The late Queen, now the King
What is the aim of the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981?
Essentially, to protect wildlife in Britain
What 5 areas does the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981 cover?
- Wildlife protection, including protection of wild birds, their eggs, nests.
- Protection of other wild animals + plants
- Nature conversation, countryside + national parks
- Public rights of way
- Miscellaneous provisions
What does the National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act of 1949 aim to do?
The act allows the creation of national parks + areas of outstanding beauty in England + Wales
What does the Hedgerow’s regulations of 1977 aim to do?
The act acquires permission to be sought to remove hedgerows from local authorities
What does the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act of 1996 aim to do?
This act offers a form of protection to all wild species of mammals + is more of an animal welfare than a conservation act
What does the Protection of Badgers of 1992 aim to do?
This animal welfare legislation protect badgers + their setts.
+
Makes it illegal to:
* Willfully capture, injure or kill a wild badger
* Be in possession of a live or dead badger
* Destroy or obstruct access to an active badger sett
What are the primary reason to why badgers are culled?
To prevent the spread of TB
True or False.
TB is asymptomatic in badgers.
True!
(Once infected from badgers)
What method of transmission spreads TB, from cattle?
Direct transmission
What are the 2 primary methods in which wild badgers are culled, to prevent the spread of TB?
- Free shooting
- Cage shooting
What particular organisation is strongly opposed to badger culling + refuses to cull badgers on their land?
The Wildlife Trust
Under the Wild Mammals Protection Act of 1996, what is considered an offence?
It is an offence to:
- Mutilate
- Kick
- Beat
- Nail
- Impale
- Stab
- Burn
- Stone
- Crush
- Drown
- Drag
- Asphyxiate
to any wild animal, with the intention of inflicting suffering
Under the Wild Mammals Protection Act of 1996, what is not considered an offence?
- The person can prove that the animal was seriously disabled + was killed quickly + humanely
- The animal had been injured during a lawful shooting, hunting or pest control
- If the act was performed by means of a snare, trap, dog or bird lawfully used for the purpose of killing a wild mammal
When taking in a wildlife casualty, what 2 legislations must you be aware of?
- The Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981
+ - The Wildlife & Natural Environment Act of 2011
What must be considered when taking in a Bird Of Prey (BOP)?
They are ringed + registered
True or False.
The wildlife legislations permit the taking of injured wildlife for tending, until its fit to be released
True
When a member of the public calls into the VP, after coming across a wild animal that requires veterinary treatment.
When it comes to rescuing it from its location, what 3 things must you consider?
- Access
- Trespassing
- Methods of trapping
What legislation covers the transportation of wild animals?
The Welfare of Animals Order of 2006
What does the Welfare of Animals Order of 2006 require for animals being transported?
They are:
* Fit to travel
* Cannot be transported, if it will cause more injury or unnecessary suffering
* Their basic welfare needs must be catered for
What basic welfare needs must be catered for according to the Welfare of Animals Order of 2006?
They must have a suitable provision of:
* Container
* Vehicle
* Food
* Water
* Ventilation
* Temperature
* Attendance, for support
When releasing a widlife casualty back into the wild, what does the wildlife legilsation acquire from veterinary professionals?
VPs are obliged to return the casualty to the wild as soon as no longer disabled
What 2 wildlife legislations require to be balanced, in order to release a wildlife casualty?
- The Animal Welfare Act of 2006
+ - The Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981
What needs to be balanced when releasing a wild animal back into the wild, between the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 + the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981?
The duty to avoid unnecessary suffering + adhere to the animal’s welfare needs
Why should you take consideration when releasing certain wildlife, such as rabbits + deer?
Take into consideration that these types may become pests
List the 5 welfare needs for all animals
- Suitable environment
- Suitable diet
- Able to exhibit natural behaviour patterns
- Can be housed with or apart from other animals
- To be protected from suffering, injury + disease
What is the act that covers the abandoning of wild animals?
The Abandonment of Animals Act of 1960
What does the Abandonment of Animals Act of 1960 make it a criminal offence to do?
To abandon or permit an animal to be abandoned, in circumstances likely to cause the animal any unnecessary suffering
Why is important to adhere to the Abandonment of Animals Act of 1960 when in the VP?
Because if you release an animal that is not able to survive in the wild, it is therefore an offence
What is the name given to an animal that is not native to the UK or an area that they are not originated from?
Non-indigenous
Also known as:
* Alien
* Non-native
What act prevents the ban of hunting wild animals, such as:
* Foxes
* Deer
* Hares
* Mink
Using dogs, to flush them out?
The Hunting Act of 2004
When is stocking or flushing wild animals exempt, in accordance to the Hunting Act of 2004?
When it prevents or reduces serious damage caused by wild animals to:
* Livestock
* Game birds
* Food for livestock
* Timers
* Fisheries
True or false.
Bats are protected in the UK, but their roots are not.
False, their roots are also protected
What is considered an offence when it comes to wild bats in the UK?
- Kill
- Injure
- Take
- Deliberately distub a bat
- Damage, destroy or obstruct a bat’s roots
- Possess or transport a bat (unlawfully)
If bats are present at a building or demoltion work site, what is it an illegal requirement to do?
It is a legal requirement to contact the Scottish Natural Heritage before they are disturbed or any work is carried out
True or False.
Wild animals can be owned whilst they are alive.
False, they cannot be owned.
However, in some circumstances, they can be a ‘qualified owner’.
What does it mean to be qualified owner, when it comes to the law surrounding the consent of wild animals?
Qualified ownership means that there is no permanent right to the animal
Unlike domesticated animals, which are seen as possessions
Give 3 examples of qualified ownership in wild animals
- Wild animals born on a person’s land
- Hunting rights
- Tame + reclaimed wild animals
What is an example taming + reclaiming wild animals?
Doves being kept in a dove coop, deer or sanctury
What can be ambigious when is comes to taming + reclaming wild animals?
Because there are legislations which are in place to prevent MOP from:
* Taming
* Claiming
* Taking wild animals
What is the only example to when a wild animal can be fully, legally granted ownership when it comes to wild animals?
If it is deceased + died on that person’s land, known as ‘reduced into possession’
When is ‘reduced into possession’ void, when it comes to wild animals?
If the person claiming ownership does not have a permit or license to shoot the animal.
Therefore, it would fall back to the person with the sporting or gaming rights
What are the 3 R’s when it comes to considering the legislation around wildlife in the VP?
- Rescue
- Rehabilitation
- Release
When it come to protecting badgers and their setts, what is considered illegal to do, under the Protection of Badgers Act of 1992?
- Kill
- Injure
- Take
- Dig for badgers
- Possess a dead badger or any parts of them
- Mark
- Ring
- Tag
- Get or allow a dog to enter a sett
- Damge or prevent access to a sett
What is considered exempt or legal to do, under the Protection of Badgers Act of 1992?
- Damage a sett - unwittingly, during a lawful action
- Ethuanise an injured badger
- Take + treat an injured badger or rear cubs, if released as soon as possible
When is the someone not not guilty of an offence, according to The Wild Mammals (Protection) Act of 1996 ?
- They can prove that an animal was seriously disabled + killed quickly + humanely
- The animal has been injured during lawful shooting, hunting or pest control
- If the act was performed by means of a snare, trap, dog or bird lawfully used for the purpose of killing a wild mammal
True or False.
Wild mammals have protection under The Wildlife & Countryside Act (WCA) of 1982.
False, they do not
Are bats + their roots protected uder the WCA of 1982?
Yes
Are birds protected under the WCA of 1982?
Yes
What is considered an offence when releasing a certain type of wild animal, according to the WCA of 1982?
It’s an offence under the WCA of 1982, to keep or release a non-indigenous species back into the wild
How should wild animals be cared for, whilst in the VP?
In a way that ensure they can returned, without being tamed + are provided with adequate hoursing, with minimal contact as possible to reduce habituation
What happens if a wild animal cannot be returned to the wild?
They have to euthanaised
Otherwise known as ‘humane destruction’
Who enforces the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981?
The Department of the Environment
+
The Police
True or False.
The exit of the EU has changed the Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981 + brought new ammendments with it.
True
What is a principle source of information when dealing with a wildlife rescue or rehabilitaation?
Guidance given by The Wildlife & Countryside Act of 1981
Name the legislation which governs the import + export of endangered species in the UK
The Endangered Species (Import & Export) Act of 1976
What is CITES?
+
What do they regulate?
CITES = Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
(Of Wild Fauna + Flora)
What is the governing management authority in the UK?
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
(DEFRA)
Who carries out the enforcement for CITES?
Customs + Excise, at the borders + inland by the Police + DEFRA’s Wildlife
What legislation protects animals in activities that could be determimental to animal welfare, including:
* Disease control
* Mutiliation of an animal’s body
* Poisoning animals
* Engaging in animal fights
The Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act of 2006
True or False.
Young wild animals will belong to the landowner, who’s owns that land.
True
True or False.
Once someone has taken ownership, a consent from for the treatment/disposal of that animal, must be obtained by the attending VP
True
When rehabilitating a wild animal, what 2 pieces of information must be required from the person who took that animal and signed by the finder, in order to comply with legislations?
- History
- Written agreement to transfer ownership
Name a legislation what covers the wildlife legslation of marine animals in Scotland?
The Marine (Scotland) Act of 2010
Name the 6 questions that must be answered and taken into consideration prior to release of a wild, rehabilitated animal?
- Is the animal suitable to be rehabilitated?
- Do we have suitable facilities?
- Has the animal been raised appropriately?
- Is the animal fit to be released?
- Do we have a suitable release sight?
- Does this comply with the legislations?
What disease do grey squirrels carry that is asymptomatic and endagers red squirrels, the natural ecosystem + food chain?
Squirrel Pox
Caused by the poxyvirus, Squirrel Fibroma Virus (SFV)
Also called ‘Squirrel Fibroma’
True or False.
A licence is legally required in order to release a non-indigenous species.
True, very rare to obtain
If a MOP learnt that the non-indigenous species that they rescued and brought to the VP for treatment has to be euthanised, by law and they run off with it, what can you do?
Call the police
If a seal pup has been left on its own, with no mother in the area, what should you do?
Leave the pup alone, as seal pup mothers leave their pups in order to hunt for food in deeper waters, to bring back for their young
- You may consider coming back to check every couple of hours to ensure the pup is okay from a distance
- You may only consider taking a seal pup if it has been left alone for more than 24hrs
What months of the year may you commonly see seal pups, in general?
June > September
What months of the year may you commonly see grey seal pups?
All year round
What colour coats do seal pup’s usually have?
White
What colour coats do seal juvenile’s usually have?
Spotty
List 6 rehabilitation centres or organisations that can be found in the UK
- SSPCA (Scotland)
- RSPCA (England)
- RSPB
- Barn Owl Trust
- Hedge Hog Sanctuary
- Seal Sanctuary
True or False.
Not all sancturies are licensed + are able to euthanise widlife that requries it, for welfare reasons.
True
Are most wildlfie sanctuaries licensed?
No
What species may there be niche rehabilitation centres for?
- Birds Of Prey
- Swan Sanctuaries
- Seal Sanctuaries
What can rehabilitation centres provide, that most VP’s cannot usually?
- Outside facilities
- Pre-release facilities
- Can segregate predator + prey species
- Wealth of knowledge in staff
- Multi-species + single species establishments
- Great species-size specific enclosures
Note:
* They are reliable
* Vital = maintain a good relationship
What type of species can spread athe zoonotic disease, Brucellosis?
Marine animals
List 3 types of wildlife diseases
- Rabies
- Lyssovirus
- Avian Flu
List 2 types of ecto-parasites than can be found on wildlife animals
- Ticks
- Fleas
Hint.. think about foxes..
Name 2 potential integument diseases that can be a danger from wildlife
- Sarcoptes
- Mange
Why are aerosols such a danger to birds?
Because they have sensitiive respiratory tracts and can kill
Perhaps due to extreamly efficent respiratory system, using 2 inhalations to gain as much oxygen as possible during flight, therefore the toxins will be inhaled twice as much?
