Wildlife crime

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 we can deal with, unless it is related to a planning enforcement matter.

If you need to report a planning breach related to wildlife, you can do so on our enforcement page.

• Report a planning breach

If you witness a suspected wildlife crime which is not linked to planning, 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
• report a wildlife crime online (opens in new tab)

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