Animal Welfare Legislation

In addition to legislation designed to protect sites, habitats and species of conservation concern, there is also legislation in the UK which relates to preventing cruelty to animals. Some of this legislation may be relevant to you and is outlined in the following table.

Table 5: UK Animal Welfare Legislation

Legislation	Description
Animal Welfare Act 2006	Amongst other protection for animals, this makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering or fail to meet the needs of vertebrates in the temporary control of man. This legislation may apply to projects involving the translocation of vertebrates.
Protection of Badgers Act 1992	Provides strict protection for badgers and their setts, including those found on development sites.
Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996	This makes it an offence to crush or asphyxiate any wild mammal with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering. This may apply during site clearance for development, particularly where burrowing animals such as foxes and rabbits are present, since such animals could be crushed or asphyxiated in their burrows by heavy machinery.