Trophy hunters are being blasted for taking part in twisted puffin shooting trips in which they kill up to 100 of the endangered birds in one go, according to animal rights activists.
Tours offered in Iceland, which cost up to £3,000, allow hunters to shoot huge groups of the birds which are not legally protected in Iceland despite their endangered status.
Disturbing photos show proud hunters holding guns while kneeling beside dead birds lined up on the floor – images which are used by hunting companies to advertise the trips.
Activists say they have evidence that British hunters are taking part in the tours and bringing trophies back to the UK, and are demanding tougher laws preventing the import of their corpses to help stamp out the industry.
Endangered
Puffin populations are in decline because of human interference and climate change, with numbers in Iceland dropping by 1.5 million in recent years.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction.
Eduardo Gonçalves of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting said: “The puffin is now in danger of becoming extinct, and uncontrolled hunting has been identified as a leading cause.
“There should be an immediate moratorium imposed before it is too late.
“CITES keeps no data on how many puffins are shot for recreation or traded. It is incredible that such an iconic species has been forgotten by the international community.”
Vulnerable
Puffins face threats to their survival across the globe due to humans. Earlier this year hundreds of puffin carcasses washed up on the shores of Alaska’s St. Paul Island due to the effects of climate change.
Scientists concluded the birds died of starvation, and though only 350 dead birds were found between October 2016 and January 2017, they estimated somewhere between 3,150 and 8,500 may have succumbed.
A report warned that the deaths are part of a bigger problem as climate change wreaks havoc on marine ecosystems.
The journal in PLOS ONE was written by a team of scientists from the University of Washington and the Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Ecosystem Conservation Office.
“Collected specimens were severely emaciated, suggesting starvation as the ultimate cause of mortality,” The University of Washington’s Timothy Jones wrote.
“Whether seabirds are resilient to these changes will ultimately govern their long-term viability in an increasingly variable climate.”
Global warming has reduced the amount of sea ice and caused fewer forage fish, crustaceans and other prey animals in the area.
What do you think of the puffin trophy hunters? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
UK’s first fully vegan school kitchen is a huge hit among pupils
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 23rd May 2022
The Lady of Sion School in Worthing opened what is believed to be UK’s first 100% Plant-Based Canteen serving black bean and quinoa meatballs in barbecue sauce, veggie fajitas with Mexican rice and meatless feast pizza. A school in West Sussex has received an overwhelming positive response after it adopted an all-vegan menu. In January, …
Continue reading “UK’s first fully vegan school kitchen is a huge hit among pupils”
75% of Brits prefer vegan cars, says new study
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 17th May 2022
A number of companies already offer a variety of plant-based leathers using everything from apples and cactus to pineapple leaves. A new poll has revealed that a majority of UK motorists are keen on buying fully vegan cars. In a research commissioned by the Vegan Society, people were asked about their opinions on vegan cars …
Continue reading “75% of Brits prefer vegan cars, says new study”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …