Freedom for Animals (FFA) has delved into the dark world of the bird of prey industry for a second time, to carry out a major new investigation as part of our Tether and Torment campaign. This comes seven years after our landmark 2018 report first brought national attention to the hidden suffering behind the industry, and exposed the continuing welfare failures in UK bird of prey centres.

Birds of prey such as owls, hawks, falcons, vultures and other species continue to be kept in restrictive, stressful, and often legally questionable conditions across the country.

The Full Investigation Report Is Now Available

After months of undercover work, FFA can now release the full report from our latest Tether and Torment investigation.

It exposes the reality behind bird of prey centres in the UK, revealing ongoing welfare concerns including tethering, confinement, poor enclosure conditions, and the breeding and use of birds for public entertainment.

A Follow-Up Investigation Driven by Public Support

Funded through ‘The Big Give Christmas Challenge’, FFA revisited three bird of prey zoos originally included in the 2018 research:

• Turbary Woods Owl and Bird of Prey Sanctuary

• English School of Falconry

• Owl Sanctuary Festival Park Ebbw Vale 

 An undercover investigator volunteered at each site for a working week, gaining behind-the-scenes access to housing, training methods, breeding practices and public handling sessions.

Findings were assessed against the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (SSSMZP); alongside the reviewing of inspection records obtained through Freedom of Information requests. This enabled us to gain a better understanding of the impact these zoos have on birds of prey, and what needs to be done to better protect them from future harm. 

Download the full report here, or by clicking the image below:

Key Findings

Across the three sites, we recorded either:

• Barren and unsuitable enclosures

• Limited access to clean water and shelter

• Routine tethering in housing and displays

• Coercive training practices

• Minimal flight opportunities

• Unresolved inspection issues

• Inconsistent enforcement by local authorities or,

• Continued breeding and sale of birds into private hands

The above findings all raise serious concerns about both animal welfare, and regulatory oversight, in the bird of prey industry.

Government Response Falls Short

In the latest update to the SSSMZP, rather than banning tethering, the government ruled that birds in zoos should not be tethered for more than four hours within any 24-hour period.

While this represents a step forward, Freedom for Animals warns that the continuation of tethering, even limited, still permits a practice proven to cause physical and psychological harm.

Six Ways You Can Take Action to Help Birds!

This investigation makes one thing clear: despite minor improvements, the UK bird of prey industry remains deeply flawed, with many birds living lives of confinement, stress and exploitation. We will be using this updated research to continue our campaign work to stop birds being used and manipulated for human entertainment. 

There are many ways that you can join us in the ‘Tether and Torment’ campaign:

• Sign the pledge to never visit a bird of prey centre or display

• Join the campaign to stop ALL tethering of birds of prey

• Order a Tether and Torment Action Pack (we will have a downloadable version available here soon!)

• Order leaflets for your event or protest!

• Donate to keep this campaign in the public domain