Major Online Marketplace Bans Catapult Sales in ‘Win for Wildlife’ say campaigners

A major online marketplace has banned the sale of catapults and slingshots in a move hailed as a “win for wildlife”, as pressure mounts on other retailers to follow suit ahead of a Parliamentary briefing next week.

Animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation has warmly welcomed the stance taken by Gumtree, which prohibits the sale of catapults and slingshots on its platform, citing concerns over their cruel misuse in the  harming of animals.

The announcement comes as MPs prepare to hear new evidence next week surrounding catapult misuse.

Modern high-powered catapults can inflict lethal injuries and have been linked to attacks on swans, birds, hedgehogs, squirrels and domestic pets. Yet in England and Wales, they remain completely unregulated, with no minimum age for purchase and no controls on sale.

Andy Harper, CEO of Gumtree, told That's Green: “Gumtree does not permit the sale of catapults or slingshots. 

"Both are prohibited under our policies and any listings identified are removed. We support concerns regarding the cruel misuse of these items to harm animals.”

He added: “Animal cruelty has no place in society, and we are committed to ensuring our platform is not used to facilitate the sale of items that could contribute to such harm.”

Gumtree also confirmed its support for stronger safeguards to prevent dangerous items being misused and to ensure they are not accessible to children.

Naturewatch Foundation says the decision demonstrates that immediate action is achievable and is urging other retailers to act now rather than wait for legislation.

Jim Clark, Wildlife Crime Campaign Manager at Naturewatch Foundation, told us:  “This is a real and meaningful win for wildlife, and for simple common sense. Gumtree has shown genuine leadership by becoming one of the first major platforms to recognise the devastating impact that the misuse of catapults is having on wildlife. 

"By taking this bold and ground-breaking step, they are setting a powerful example for others to follow"

Wildlife rescue centres across the UK continue to report animals suffering catastrophic injuries consistent with catapult attacks. Police are often unable to intervene unless another offence has been committed, and incidents are not recorded as a specific crime, meaning the true scale of harm remains hidden.

Next week’s Parliamentary briefing, hosted by Naturewatch Foundation, will highlight growing evidence of catapult misuse and call for stronger safeguards.

Alongside calls for legislative reform, the charity is urging retailers to:

Introduce voluntary age restrictions on sales

Remove high-powered catapults from toy and sports categories

Prevent the marketing of devices for “hunting” wildlife

Jim Clark added: "These weapons can cause immense suffering, yet they remain cheap, easily accessible, and largely unregulated. 

"Gumtree’s decision acknowledges that this is not just a retail issue, but a responsibility issue. Other retailers should act now and follow their lead; our wildlife and our communities simply cannot afford any more delay or inaction”

Public support for stronger wildlife protection remains high, and campaigners hope Gumtree’s stance will encourage industry-wide action.

naturewatch.org 

World Wildlife Day Warning: as rescued baby bear Lissy sends a stark message about vigilance against the wildlife trafficking trade

The dancing bear trade ended in 2009, so this World Wildlife Day, 3rd March, why are we writing about another bear cub rescued in recent months? 

Progress has been made, but poachers persist in the wildlife trafficking trade.

International Animal Rescue is calling for continued support against wildlife trafficking on World Wildlife Day after a young sloth bear cub, Lissy, was rescued from the illegal ‘dancing’ bear trade 17 years after it was officially eradicated.

The three-year-old cub was rescued from the Jharkhand–West Bengal border following a tip-off to forest officials. Spotting their approach, the trafficker threw the cub onto the floor before running off.

The baby bear, named Lissy, had gruesome injuries. Her muzzle had been pierced, and a rope had been forced through it, and her canine teeth had been smashed out. 

She was emaciated and thirsty. Her injuries are a trademark of the horrific dancing bear trade, which forces cubs away from their mothers and tortures them into ‘performing’ in agony. Lissy’s injuries reflect why this practice was outlawed in 1972 and eradicated fifteen years ago.

In 2009, after many years of hard work from both International Animal Rescue and Wildlife SOS, more than 620 bears had been rescued and taken into sanctuary. So why was another cub still trafficked?

Alan Knight OBE, President of International Animal Rescue, told That's Green: “We cannot become complacent. 

"We thought that the dancing bear trade had stopped, but this latest rescue proves otherwise, as traffickers are still attempting to sneak bears across borders. We named her Lissy, after our beloved colleague Lis Key, who spent her career working to end this practice. 

"I know she’d be proud to see this cub, which is now safe and happy. We are calling for support to increase vigilance and to raise awareness.”

Native to South Asia, sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) are classified as Vulnerable and continue to face threats from habitat destruction, poaching and illegal trade.

This World Wildlife Day, International Animal Rescue is asking for support to continue enforcement, maintain cross-border vigilance and urge the public to help prevent this torturous trade from happening again as well as supporting Lissy bear.

To help them keep up the fight against wildlife traffickers, please visit: https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/animals/indian-sloth-bear