North Swindon MP, Justin Tomlinson, today joined other MPs at the launch of the WSPA’s ‘Cruelty in a Concrete Jungle’ campaign.
The campaign aims to tackle wildlife crime in our towns and cities. Wildlife crime encompasses a variety of illegal activities, including: animal cruelty; smuggling protected species and their parts (eg: tortoises and ivory); illegally trading in endangered species; poisoning animals; disturbing or killing wild birds and taking protected plants from their natural environment.
Wildlife crime is hugely profitable. The global illegal wildlife trade is worth an estimated £6-12 billion a year and the people involved are hardened criminals often linked to other serious crime, such as drugs, money laundering and firearms offences.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals is now the world’s largest international animal welfare organisation with offices in 15 countries and counting. WSPA partner with hundreds of local organisations around the world in the name of animal welfare.
Justin Tomlinson MP said “The level of wildlife crime in our town and cities is concerning, not just because animals are suffering, but also because of the connection to other organised crime and even terrorism. I welcome the campaign by the WSPA to tackle this serious issue.”
