All animals under the care of humans involve some degree of compromise in their freedom so we can keep them safe and healthy whilst living with us. This may be as simple as keeping a dog in a lead to prevent it getting run over whilst going for a walk. Birds of prey currently have amongst the least restrictions on their welfare with husbandry techniques mirroring their natural life and being allowed to fly freely as they would in the wild. DEFRA are planning on introducing legislation that will greatly inhibit the ability of zoos to train and allow their birds to fly free which will significantly affect their welfare and needs. A ban on tethering will mean some birds can’t be trained, won’t be able to fly free and may suffer more stress in aviaries if not trained to associate positive reward around humans. The intimate handling associated with tethering means birds are examined more thoroughly more regularly so health concerns are identified and corrected quicker, and are also much more easily treated by avian vets if they can be tethered. 

We request that DEFRA consult properly with experts from within the industry before banning a husbandry technique that is essential risk for keeping their welfare high.