A hare collapsed and "died of unknown cause" during a coursing meeting in Liscannor, County Clare, recently published coursing reports have revealed.
According to the documents uploaded to the National Parks and Wildlife Service website, the hare - one of 71 cruelly snatched from the Clare countryside for the bloodsport - was described as "unfit for coursing".
"It [the hare] was slipped [released to run up the coursing field] but not coursed," the report outlines. "It collapsed on the course and died of unknown cause."
https://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/files/6_%20Liscannor%20Reports.pdf
Although no post mortem was carried out on this unfortunate hare, an accompanying veterinary report claims the creature "died from natural causes". There is nothing natural about hares being trapped in a coursing enclosure, manhandled, "trained" to run up a field while being chased and used as live lures for dogs to chase. A possible cause of death was capture myopathy - a stress-related condition which can claim the lives of hares during coursing and in the days/weeks/months after they are released back to the wild.
The coursing documents also reveal that during the two-day Liscannor meeting, held last September, at least 5 hares were hit by greyhounds and four were examined for injuries.
One of the hares struck suffered a mauling but "appeared to recover", according to the coursers. In another incident, a greyhound "managed to enter the 'escape' into the enclosure" where the hares are confined after being chased.
Hares will once again be running for their lives at Liscannor this month, with the next meeting due to take place on 29th and 30th September. Cruel coursing continues thanks to a licence shamefully issued by Minister Josepha Madigan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Please help bring coursing to an end by responding to our action alert below.
ACTION ALERT
With warnings from wildlife experts that the Irish Hare is in trouble, it is now more clear than ever that the species must be given full protection. Urgently contact Minister Josepha Madigan and the National Parks and Wildlife Service and demand that they revoke the 2018-19 hare coursing licence and end all forms of hare persecution.
Minister Josepha Madigan
Minister for Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht
Phone: +353 (0)1 631 3800
Email: josepha.madigan@oireachtas.ie, ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie, wildlifelicence@ahg.gov.ie, john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie, Gerry.Leckey@ahg.gov.ie, nature.conservation@ahg.gov.ie
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://facebook.com/JosephaMadiganFG
Tweet to: @josephamadigan
John Fitzgerald
Director, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Phone: +353 (0)1 888 3242
Email: john.fitzgerald@ahg.gov.ie
VIDEOS
See the cruelty of hare coursing on our Youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/icabs
SAMPLE LETTER
(If you have time, please compose your own personal letter. Otherwise, feel free to send the short sample letter below)
Dear Minister,
I am one of the majority who want hare coursing outlawed. I am writing to demand that you revoke the 2018-19 hare netting licence that has shamefully been issued.
In coursing, hares suffer and die at all stages - during the capture, during the time they are kept in captivity and during the coursing meetings where they run for their lives in front of greyhounds. Among the injuries recorded are broken legs, damaged toes and dislocated hips.
I ask you to please act on the wishes of the majority, show compassion and end this cruelty.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
[Name/Location]
The Irish Hare is a protected species but an exemption for coursing in the Animal Health and Welfare Act means coursers are not liable for prosecution for their cruelty. Join us in our call to the government to remove the exemption and provide full and permanent protection to this cherished species.
Contact An Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and ask him to ban hare coursing and give permanent protection to hares.
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar
Department of the Taoiseach,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2
Telephone: +353 (0)1-6194020
Email: taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, leo.varadkar@oireachtas.ie
Tweet to: @campaignforLeo Tweet to @campaignforLeo
Leave a comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campaignforleo/
Express your support for a ban on coursing. Sign and share the petition
Ireland: Ban cruel hare coursing
https://www.change.org/p/ireland-ban-cruel-hare-coursing