Wildlife Crime
What it is
Wildlife crime includes buying, selling, harming or disturbing wild animals or plants that are protected by law.
Wildlife crimes can include:
- animal cruelty
- poaching or coursing
- trading in protected species or products
- killing or capturing a protected animal
- damaging or destroying the habitat of a protected animal
- taking protected plants
- disturbing or killing wild birds or taking their eggs
How to report wildlife crime
Wildlife crime is not a matter that Dover District Council can deal with, unless it is related to a DDC Planning Enforcement matter .
If you witness a suspected wildlife crime, you should report it to the police - do not take action yourself. Many police forces have special wildlife crime officers.
You should:
- call 999 to report a suspected wildlife crime taking place
- call 101 for non-emergencies - you’ll be put in touch with Kent Police
You can also report a wildlife crime online.