Disgust at badger hunting as horrific photos appear online

“PEOPLE should be prosecuted over this,” said a spokesperson for Kildare Wildlife Rescue over allegations of badger hunting on The Curragh after a series of graphic images were circulated on social media.

“I’m aware of those photographs, and they would be considered a wildlife crime,” he said.

“Last year we received over 50 wildlife crimes, and we would report it to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), who have the power to investigate this.

“I’m aware of this and would be horrified if this is happening on The Curragh.

“Anybody with such suspicions should report it to Kildare Town or Newbridge Gardaí or to the NPWS,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Kildare Animal Foundation told the Kildare Nationalist: “We have no direct involvement with the subject of concern, apart from repeating that The Curragh is not policed anywhere near enough. Many despicable practices take place there.

“People involved in animal rights are the best to speak to in order to get a full picture of the situation. The Military Police would also have a useful input,” she said.

A spokesman for the NPWS told this newspaper: “If we can verify from the photos that a criminal offence has been alleged, that would be quite serious. Interference with a badger sett is a criminal offence, not a civil one, and it’s something we would take very seriously.

“Historically, I’m not aware of badger hunting on The Curragh, but we would need first-hand information to investigate. Badger digging happens all over the country and has occurred previously in South Kildare.

“We don’t want to hinder a successful prosecution, so there will be a criminal investigation if we can verify the photos.” 

The circulation of the disgusting images has caught the attention of local senator Fiona O’Loughlin, who has called for such illegal hunting to be proscribed within the pending plan for the management of The Curragh. She is calling for the 2,000 hectare (5,000 acre) area to be reclassified as a national park.

Last week, senator O’Loughlin – a long time, vocal supporter of the Plains – said she had written to two government ministers and to Kildare County Council, outlining the urgent need to include illegal hunting in the plan to give the Curragh Plains national park status. Her letters followed the circulation of photographs on online groups showing significant damage to parts of The Curragh, where large burrows and holes have been dug across the area to capture rabbits and badgers, causing serious concern about the long-term preservation of this unique landscape.

“This is one of the reasons The Curragh has to be monitored appropriately, because it’s not being managed properly,” said senator O’Loughlin. “This is one of the reasons we need The Curragh to be called a national park.”