If you find a sick or injured bird,
please call the emergency helpline
07909 795064
between 9:00 am and midnight.
Drop-off points are located around London.
London Wildlife Protection focuses on wild birds living in London. We are a volunteer-run organisation, and endeavour to provide a rescue service when possible for all trapped, injured, sick or orphaned birds, and also for eggs and nests. We have a limited number of volunteers, so we ask callers to deliver the casualty to our rehabilitators or a local LWP volunteer, if possible.
One of our volunteers will arrange the nearest drop-off location for the injured animal. In some cases, we may be able to collect the casualty but, because of the large number of cases we deal with daily, especially during the nesting season collection is often not feasible.
We are a not-for-profit organisation and rely solely on donations from the public for provisions of food and medications.
No-Kill Policy
London Wildlife Protection operates a no-kill policy for the casualties coming in; however, in exceptional circumstances, where an animal is suffering immensely with absolutely no prospect of improvement, then, and only then, we may be forced to make the difficult decision for their future. Such instances are extremely rare and never taken lightly.
Petition
We are thrilled to see that our petition to prosecute organisations trapping birds in netting, picked up so much traction and now exceeds the 150k mark! Thank you everyone for caring.
The next step was submission which proved to be the most difficult part since we are not demanding legislative change but enforcement of existing laws!! No one would take responsibility - we were turned away by Defra, Natural England and the Home Office, until we reached The Metropolitan Wildlife Crime Police who suggested a meeting with us.
The meeting was a huge success since we have their full backing and cooperation to investigate and instigate potential prosecutions to repeat offenders of wildlife crime when our hands are tied. The message was clear - no one is above the law!
We look forward to working with the Wildlife Crime Unit and are most grateful of their cooperation in this serious matters.
Important Information
A detailed explanation of the legal protection given to birds and, in particular, pigeons, can be found on the PICAS website.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
All wild birds, including pigeons, their nests and eggs, are protected by law. It is an offence, except under licence, to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird, to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird, and to intentionally take or destroy the eggs of any wild bird.
In February 2019, the validity of the licences issued by Natural England was questioned, and they were withdrawn following a legal challenge by Wild Justice. They were subsequently reinstated by DEFRA after complaints from the shooting community, but will be up for review again in January 2020. The latest updates and status of the case can be read here.
The Act makes it a criminal offence to allow an animal to suffer unnecessarily. Free-living wild animals are not normally covered by this act, but if they are under the control of man, including if trapped in netting, then the legislation applies.
As explained here, any agency can bring a prosecution against any individual or company where birds have suffered or died having become trapped behind or within bird netting installations. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 would be used for the purpose of the prosecution on the basis that unnecessary suffering had resulted.
