Article written by Ralph Riegel
Originally published by archive.today (Jan 22, 2025)
Gardaí have launched a crackdown on illegal hunting amid indications of an alarming increase in hare “lamping” and the baiting of both badgers and foxes.
Animal welfare groups fear gangs from cities and towns are now operating illegal hunting rings, often with dogs “blooded” to hunt hares, rabbits, badgers and foxes.
Such hunts also feature related gambling operations.
Searches have been carried out in Kerry, Tipperary, Clare and Cork over recent weeks as gardaí targeted areas linked to the operations of illegal hunters by confidential intelligence.
A number of checkpoints have been mounted across Tipperary over recent days, with gardaí supported by officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
The checkpoints were set up in areas where gardaí had obtained information from local residents about suspicious activity in forestry and fields late at night.
That followed checkpoints being mounted across Cork, Kerry and Clare over previous weeks in a crackdown on suspected illegal hunting.
Last October, gardaí detected a group of men in north Kerry engaged in suspected lamping—the hunting of hares with the assistance of powerful spotlights.
The lights are used to dazzle the animal, which, while stunned, is either killed or captured by the hunters.
If captured unharmed, the animal can then be sold for illegal hunting, where it is torn apart by dogs.
A number of dogs were also found with the men.
NPWS officials expressed concern at the practice of groups travelling from cities and towns to rural areas to target animals, some of which are protected species.
Animal welfare officials admitted that illegal hunting is also being promoted in vile social media videos.
In some cases, video footage of hunts is shared within groups, encouraging others to join in the illegal activity.
Gardaí have monitored those associated with illegal hunts and believe trips are organised to designated rural areas where hunts can be conducted.
In one case, the blooding or training of a dog to hunt and kill is videoed.
In another, a group recorded a hare being torn apart by dogs and betting about which dog would secure the kill.
Equipment, including night-vision goggles and large spotlights, has been seized by gardaí and the NPWS in recent weeks.
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan said there were 43 prosecutions for wildlife crime in 2023, far fewer than might be expected in a country of Ireland’s size.
“A wildlife crime can include a number of different things, like illegal burning and cutting down hedgerows outside of the period that is permissible,” Ms. Boylan said.
“It involves illegal deer hunting, illegal hunting of hares with dogs and also more horrific things like using glue traps to collect songbirds.
“There is a wide range of crimes that fall under the Wildlife Act.”
Gardaí have appealed for anyone living in rural areas to contact them if they notice suspicious activity late at night or in the early hours of the morning that they think might be illegal hunting.
Officers said they are particularly urging landowners who may notice suspicious activity to contact them.
