HORSES LEFT TO DIE IN WEATHER BESIEGED BRITAIN - CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THEM

More than 21,000 join a Facebook campaign to save horses left to die in muddy field as experts warn of devastation to Britain's wildlife because of the floods

• Badly decomposed horse found in a field in Leicester while a second one with severe injuries was later put down
• Study warns that pesticides in floodwater pose a deadly threat to animals
• 140 oily seabirds washed up in south Devon in weather-related tragedy

Animal lovers have launched a Facebook campaign after a photo of a dead horse left to rot in a paddock beside a busy road was posted online.  More than 21,000 people have signed up to demand action against the traveller who grazes horses on the land before selling them for food on the continent.  When the RSPCA visited the field, a second horse had to be put down because its condition was deteriorating so badly.  But the charity said it was unable to start an investigation into suspected animal neglect because a vet had ruled there was not clear evidence that the horses were suffering unnecessarily.

Flooding will have a 'devastating' impact on Britain’s wildlife, experts have warned as a grim picture emerged of a decomposing horse that was left to die in a submerged field.  In south Devon, hundreds of oiled seabirds were washed ashore onto beaches. The RSPB believes most of the deaths were a 'sad but natural occurrence' after the recent stormy weather.  Experts said that animals throughout the food chain, from insects to small mammals and birds are thought to be drowning or dying from lack of food.

 

Pesticides and toxic chemicals in floodwater also pose a potentially deadly threat to animals, a study warned.  Matt Shardlow, head of insect charity Buglife, told the Independent that floodwaters could help spread dangerous materials.  He said: 'If the floodwater were to be contaminated with pesticides or other toxic industrial chemicals then there could be an absolutely devastating environment incident.'

 

Other animals - Flooding will have a 'devastating' impact on Britain’s wildlife, experts have warned as a grim picture emerged of a decomposing horse that was left to die in a submerged field.

 

Bumblebees, beetles and caterpillars are at risk of dying 'at greatly elevated rates' through drowning and their hibernations being affected, while earthworm, snail and beetle populations along the Thames will be 'decimated'.

 

Oiled seabirds - In south Devon, hundreds of oiled seabirds were washed ashore onto beaches. The RSPB believes most of the deaths were a 'sad but natural occurrence' after the recent stormy weather.

 

Experts said that animals throughout the food chain, from insects to small mammals and birds are thought to be drowning or dying from lack of food.

 

Pesticides and toxic chemicals in floodwater also pose a potentially deadly threat to animals, a study warned.

 

Matt Shardlow, head of insect charity Buglife, told the Independent that floodwaters could help spread dangerous materials.

 

He said: 'If the floodwater were to be contaminated with pesticides or other toxic industrial chemicals then there could be an absolutely devastating environment incident.'

 

Read more here - Caution, graphic photos of horses

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2561399/Who-left-horses-die-flooded-fields-Shocking-pictures-decomposing-animals-experts-warn-devastation-Britains-wildlife.html

 

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