Let’s work together to end wildlife poaching in the UK.
Thousands of wild animals, including deer, birds of prey, badgers and hare, are killed illegally every year in the UK, often through cruel methods. We have an opportunity to stop wildlife crime by improving reporting and enforcement. The Poacher Alert App allows witnesses of suspected poaching activities to report and log an incident. This data will help build a picture of the extent of the poaching problem in the UK, and will be passed on to relevant enforcement agencies for action.
Members of Poacher Alert may also form and join “Poacher Watch Groups” in their local area to provide additional protection to targeted species.
Join us in protecting the UK’s beloved wildlife.
Our mission
The poaching of wild animals is a cruel and illegal activity that continues to decimate populations of key species globally. In the UK alone, we lose 50,000 wild deer every year to poaching. This is partly due to the underreporting of sightings of suspected poaching, and the enforcement of anti-poaching laws, which remains a challenge in many jurisdictions.
The Poacher Alert App aims to eliminate poaching in the UK by enabling witnesses of suspected poaching to submit live reports containing the description and location of the poaching incident to our database. The data will map out the poaching problem in the UK, helping relevant enforcement authorities understand and address incidents more efficiently.
Poacher Alert will also provide advice on poaching legislation and enforcement, and how citizen participation is supporting enforcement efforts. Subscribers will receive updates from our conservation partners about how their contribution is helping to improve the protection of the UK’s wildlife.
- Wild deer poached every year in the UK
- 50 000+
- Seizures of illegal wildlife and products in 2022 by the UK Border Force
- 715
- Wildlife crimes reported in England and Wales 2022
- 4 500+
The Scale of the UK Poaching Problem
Wildlife crimes such as raptor persecution, badger baiting, hare coursing and illegal hunting and fishing continue to occur across the United Kingdom. Wildlife poaching is a significant contributor to the decline of wild animals, with 1 in 8 threatened with extinction in the UK.
According to the latest data provided by Wildlife and Countryside Link, 4,457 wildlife crime incidents were reported in England and Wales in 2022. There were 526 convictions, compared to 900 the year before. The figures may be much higher due to challenges in reporting and capturing this data. In Scotland, 286 offences against wildlife were recorded in 2022, with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service receiving 77 cases.
Legislation and Enforcement
In England and Wales, the primary legislation protecting wildlife against harm, disturbance and killing is the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Protection is also provided under the Hunting Act 2004, the Game Act, the Deer Act and the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (COTES) regulations, among others.
There are several agencies, initiatives and coalitions working on ending wildlife poaching in the UK, including the Poaching Priority Delivery Group comprising members of the National Wildlife Crime Unit and both governmental and non-governmental institutions, Wildlife and Countryside Link and the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime. We are working with members of these coalitions to support anti-poaching activities and coordination.
Learn about our partners →