As part of the reform to animal protection and welfare law, the shooting of hares in England will be banned. Currently, it is lawful to shoot at the animals during their season of breeding season
At the moment, it is legal to shoot the animals during their breeding season, causing pregnant hares to be killed, often bleeding to death, while their young are left orphaned.
Ministers will announce plans to implement a ban on trail hunting, a practice in which hounds follow an artificial scent rather than chase a live animal.
The reform, which was pledged in the government’s election manifesto, is expected to be revealed in a new animal welfare strategy due to be unveiled on Monday.
The strategy will set out a legislative route for enforcing the ban.
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Animal welfare campaigners have long argued that existing regulations are inadequate, warning that foxes are still frequently killed when hounds following artificial scents encounter live animals during hunts.
The nature minister, Mary Creagh, said: “Brown hares are a cherished part of our countryside, an iconic British species, and it’s simply wrong that so many are shot during breeding season. I am determined to stop the decline of this wonderful animal.”
The reform is also perceived as an effort to boost Labour MPs and supporters amid internal party disagreements, rising living costs and declining poll ratings.
One survey found that 79 per cent of respondents believed legislation on foxhunting should be strengthened to prevent trail hunts from accidentally killing foxes.
Labour Party sources also said their own polling showed that 85 per cent of the public consider the protection of animal welfare a moral obligation.
As part of the proposed measures, a new close season is expected to ban hare hunting during the breeding period from February to October, in a bid to protect pregnant hares and their young.
Hares are currently shot for meat, sport and pest control, with some rural landowners arguing that hare populations are excessive.
However, conservation groups dispute this claim, noting that brown hare numbers in England and Wales have declined by about 80 per cent over the past century.
It is hoped that the animal welfare package, to be announced in full, will also raise the spirits of Labour MPs and voters after months of party infighting, continuing rises in the cost of living, and a prolonged slump in the polls.
Previous polling showed 79% of the public thought the law on foxhunting should be tightened to stop trail hunts from accidentally killing foxes. Labour sources said their polling showed 85% of the public believed there was a moral duty to protect animal welfare.
The new close season will ban hare hunting during the breeding months of February to October to protect mothers and the young. At present, hares are shot for their meat, for fun, and because some landowners in the countryside believe it is overpopulated with the animals.
However, the claim that the countryside is overpopulated with hares is dubious. Brown hare populations in England and Wales have declined by 80% over the past century.
The former Conservative environment secretary, George Eustice, tried while in post to implement a close season for hares but was blocked.
He told the Guardian: “The first principle of conservation is to protect species during their breeding season, so it is excellent news that the government will now create a modern close season on the shooting of hares. Every year, approximately 200,000 hares are killed in organised, commercial shoots during February and March, and this has a devastating impact on the orphaned leverets, which are left to starve to death.
“Even the Victorians recognised the need for a close season, but the 1892 act was based on a ban on sales, so it no longer works. The current government deserves credit for finally getting this important change done.”
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