Birds of prey centre asking for help to relocate

A Somerset wildlife sanctuary says it is relocating the business to help it survive planned changes to the way animals are cared for.

Sharandys Birds of Prey centre, near Chard, is moving to Vurlands animal farm in Swyre, Dorset and needs to raise £10,000 to build new homes for the birds.

In 2022, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it wanted to phase out the tethering of birds of prey, including for displays.

The owner of Sharandys, Sharon Cox, said: "The birds will all be free inside the aviaries as we won't be able to tether anymore."

The centre, which is home 35 birds of prey, has also seen business affected by Covid-19 and avian flu in recent years.

Sharandys Birds of Prey has launched a JustGiving fundraising page to help pay for the move to Vurlands animal farm.

Ms Cox added: "We have to move, we don't have any option. By 2027 private centres will have to stop tethering the birds."

"It also means we will, eventually, have to stop doing the public displays and people will have to go to the animal farm to see the birds."

A Defra spokesperson said: “The UK has some of the highest zoo animal welfare standards in the world.

"We have consulted on raising the standards in our zoos higher still, including looking at the role of tethering as a method of keeping birds of prey in zoos. 

“Since the consultation, we have worked closely with the sector, including bird of prey centres, to refine the new requirements, and plan to publish these standards later this year.”