Q993: What is wildlife crime?

In general, wildlife crime is any action that contravenes current legislation governing the protection of the UK's wild animals and plants and includes:

• Hare coursing.
• Deer poaching.
• Fish poaching.
• Badger persecution – including baiting, snaring, shooting, and disturbance of setts.
• Bat persecution.
• Egg theft / collection.
• Bird of Prey persecution – through poisoning, trapping, shooting, disturbance of nest and/or theft of chicks.
• Trading in ivory, tortoises, rhino horn and other protected species covered by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) including caviar, Traditional Chinese Medicines, and orchids).
• Non registration of certain birds and animals that require licensing through DEFRA / Animal Health if kept in captivity or sold.

Wildlife crime can be reported to your local police force via the 101 non-emergency number. Each police force has a dedicated wildlife officer / team, who investigates wildlife crime.

Please also see the websites in 'Related Information' for further information on this topic.