The League Against Cruel Sports today welcomed the conviction of a gamekeeper for keeping a fox in cruel conditions in a disused outbuilding, which it believes was being held to be chased and killed by a local hunt.

Nigel Smith, head gamekeeper of the Buckminster Estate, was found guilty of charges brought under Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act for failing to meet the welfare needs of an animal, at Lincoln Magistrates Court late last week.

He was caught on camera by investigators from the League Against Cruel Sports with a bag and net outside the disused building the day before the Belvoir hunt met.

‘Trail’ hunting

This followed a successful League operation during which investigators had found the fox, captured it and taken it to a local vet for treatment, before releasing it back into the countryside. The fox had been found in appalling conditions and in a terrified state.

Chris Luffingham, League Against Cruel Sports director of campaigns, said: “We welcome this conviction which will act as a deterrent to others who think they can get away with cruelty towards British wildlife.

“We’re outraged that hunts are still chasing and killing foxes in the British countryside. Before the hunting ban came in they claimed this was about wildlife management but this case blows that argument out of the water and shows that foxes are being kept so they can be released for ‘sport’.

“The hunts have been conning the public since the hunting ban was introduced with their argument that they are ‘trail’ hunting rather than chasing and killing animals.

“This proves everything we’ve been saying since the myth of ‘trail’ hunting began to be touted about by the hunts after hunting was banned in 2004.

This cruelty

“This completely shatters the illusion of hunting being some sort of genteel activity wrapped up in tradition. It’s not. It’s barbaric and bloodthirsty and has no place in a modern, compassionate society.”

Darryl Cunnington, League Against Cruel Sports head of investigations, who lead the operation to free the fox, said: “We’re delighted with this conviction.

“The judge has sent out a clear message to any hunts across the country that are keeping foxes that this cruelty is not to be tolerated. He made it very clear that the consequences of doing this again would be very serious.”

Nigel Smith was fined £400, has to pay a £40 victim surcharge and pay £1,200 costs.

The League is encouraging members of the public to sign its petition, titled ‘stop the killing of animals by hunts in the UK’.

This Author

Brendan Montague is editor of The Ecologist, founder of Request Initiative and co-author of Impact of Market Forces on Addictive Substances and Behaviours: The web of influence of addictive industries (Oxford University Press). He tweets at @EcoMontague.

Something bad is coming our way. Though various theories are floating around, one thing is frighteningly clear: human actions are having profound and unpredictable effects on the rest of the world.

As climates warm, as ocean circulation grinds to a halt and as the atmospheric composition slowly shifts, things are going to get pretty weird.

Some of the most dramatic predictions evoke a future that is downright apocalyptic — a worldwide extinction event similar to the Cretaceous meteorite.

Vulnerable areas

While we can’t be sure this is the future we have built for ourselves, well-documented instances of human meddling in the natural realm can be seen every day.

One of the easiest statistics we can use to track this influence is the rate at which species are going extinct. While some activities — poaching or property development, for instance — have always contributed to the untimely demise of endangered species, widespread climate change is increasing this rate with distressing speed.

Some believe it is only so long until a truly integral pillar of the natural environment joins the list of lost species, unbalancing the natural harmony of entire ecosystems around the globe.

Efforts on the part of national governments and third-party organisations to prevent this catastrophe have resulted in increased natural preserves around the world, particularly in vulnerable areas. But it might not be enough.

For decades, conservationists have argued that a significantly larger percentage of the earth must be set aside for the preservation of nature.

Remaining prey

EO Wilson’s book, Half Earth, outlines this belief. Wilson, a biologist out of Harvard, maintains that the current conservation efforts must be dramatically expanded for the species of earth to stand a fighting chance.

While the scattering of nature preserves around the globe are certainly in the right spirit, they also cause some problems for the animals within.

The largest set of issues stem from the isolation of the species within the preserves. Within these contained — often fenced against poachers or other human contact — zones, conservationists are tasked with recreating entire ecosystems, which is nearly impossible.

For instance, natural predators are more easily able to corner their prey with the restrictions of space within nature preserves, resulting in plummeting numbers of natural prey and an abundance of predators.

This, of course, causes troubling population swings as the predators begin competing for the few remaining prey, and ultimately causes a reduction in all species — the direct opposite effect hoped to be achieved by the nature preserve.

Ambitious plan

Genetic isolation is another, somewhat more insidious effect on species contained within nature preserves. Normally, when animals are free in the wild, they have the opportunity to travel and cross-breed with other compatible species in different areas of the world.

When contained within the boundaries of a nature conservancy, species cannot move to new areas, and their genetic diversity suffers as a result. With lower genetic diversity, a population risks disease-related extinction or being unable to adapt to certain changes in the environment.

Both of these issues can result in hugely troubling long-term ramifications for species relegated to the preserves. Fundamentally, when a species adapts to a specific, limited environment, reintroduction to the outside world can be a harsh ride.

Even beyond the problems associated with the reserves themselves, reintroduction could just as quickly result in the total extinction of several species as they are exposed to new predators, new diseases, and new environments while genetically stagnating in a smaller, isolated area.

To remedy this, EO Wilson and other conservationists have outlined an ambitious plan of action: set aside half the world for preservation purposes.

Wardens and observers

While the call to action has been ridiculed and questioned by critics and conservationists alike, it also presents the most viable option for fixing the problems outlined above.

Beyond just expanding the natural boundaries of the existing nature preserves, the plan also provides for extended corridors of protected land which will allow vulnerable species to travel from one area to another.

This project will reduce most of the significant factors impacting wildlife survival within the reserves. The genetic bottleneck of isolation will no longer sit in stone: species can travel from one preserve to the next and cross-breed as they do.

Predation will also be maintained in natural order: prey species will have more extensive areas to flee and escape routes to separate zones.

Human impact — as with any other preservation zones — will also be kept to a minimum. While some human contact, including wardens, boundary maintenance and observers, will be necessary, these will be trained professionals in their fields.

Preserving wildlife

The plan will also remove the largest human-contributed culprits from the equation. In particular, it will significantly mitigate the destruction of the natural environment.

Logging and human-created forest fires — the latter of which consumes thousands of acres of wildlife and can travel at close to 15 miles an hour — will no longer destroy the homes of protected wildlife.

Devoting half the earth to natural preservation seems like a big ask. Many countries rely on their natural environments as economic resources and will be widely opposed to the idea of massive, interconnected nature preserves.

However, while it is a drastic step and a tough sell, EO Wilson’s plan represents the most realistic and effective plan for preserving wildlife from the destructive touch of humanity.

This Author

Emily Folk is a conservation and sustainability writer and the editor of Conservation Folks.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.

What is the relationship between inner and outer, mental and physical, subjective and objective experience? If they are all part of one continuous process, how can this be visualised?  

What are the metaphors offered by science, as well as those underlying scientific ideas about the mystery of form coming into being and the whole process of embodiment?

Dr Rupert Sheldrake, a biologist and author of more than 85 scientific papers and 12 books, speaks on ‘Science and Spiritual Practices’ for the next Resurgence Talk in London on 25 April 2018.

Digitally mediated

These are just some of the questions internationally celebrated artist Susan Derges considers in her work using the pioneering technique of cameraless photography, 

She said: “The photographic image parallels the scientific gaze in the way that it can slice up the world for scrutiny and as evidence, but it also has the potential to cultivate a subjective response – by which the world is experienced as a whole and in which intrinsic value and mutual respect are possible.”

Speaking at the Resurgence Talks about one of her earlier works, The Observer and the Observed, Susan says : “You have the camera and then the lens separating you as the maker from what’s in front. And this separation also takes place within our own biology. We have the illusory sense that we are separate entities from the outside world.”

Much of Susan’s work has dealt with this relationship –  of separation and connectedness with the natural world.  She says removing the camera allows an almost alchemical transformation, to extraordinary and powerful effect.

The natural world, in particular the landscapes near Susan’s home on Dartmoor, continue to influence and inspire her work and in the digitally mediated world in which we now find ourselves, she says reconnecting with nature has never been so important.

This speaker

Susan Derges began her career as a painter working in London and Berlin in the 1970’s and moved to Japan in 1980 where she developed the cameraless approach to photography for which she has become internationally renowned. She is a visiting professor of photography at the University of Plymouth.