Year-end letter
Reply
Author Archives: Exposing the Big Game
Boxing Day hunts could soon disappear as Government moves forward with trail hunting ban
Early trial results of bird flu vaccine on Hawaiian monk seals leave researchers optimistic
By Tiffany DeMasters
December 21, 2025 · 6:21 AM PST
Listen to this Article
4 minutes
A
A
A
Until late last year, the Hawaiian Islands had been free from the bird flu, also known as H5N1. But when a backyard flock of birds and a wild duck on Oʻahu had confirmed cases of the flu in November of 2024, marine mammal researchers reassessed their next steps for disease preparedness and decided to test the avian flu vaccine on two endangered Hawaiian monk seals.
The researches recently received good news that the seals, RU28 and RU99, showed no signs of a negative reaction from the vaccine, which was given to them this fall at the Marine Mammal Center Ke Kai Ola in Kailua-Kona.
“So far, those results have been encouraging,” said Sophie Whoriskey, the center’s Associate Director of Hawai‘i Conservation Medicine. “They kept right on eating, doing their normal seal things.”
Both seals had been rescued because they were separated too early from their mothers, leaving them underweight.
Whoriskey said the bird flu vaccine given to the seals is not experimental and has been conditionally licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In partnership with the Marine Mammal Center and NOAA, the implementation of the bird flu vaccine in marine mammals was initially rolled out in July to a small group of elephant seals in California. Results revealed the marine mammals safely developed an antibody response.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
And so far, all elephant seals being treated at the Marine Mammal Center in California have tested negative for the avian flu.
RU28 was given a first dose of the vaccine on Oct. 6 and a booster shot on Oct. 27. The animal was released with a satellite tag back to its home island on Kaua‘i the last week of November by a team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, according to an email from Giancarlo Rulli, associate director of public relations at the Marine Mammal Center.
RU99 received its first dose on Nov. 10 and a booster on Dec. 1. RU99 remains at Ke Kai Ola with no solid release date. The team is waiting for the animal to gain a little more weight.
Blood samples from the two seals will be tested for their antibody response to the vaccine. Whoriskey said they will send those samples out early in the new year.
The avian flu virus already has had deadly results for marine mammals, with researchers discovering the deaths of more than 17,000 southern elephant seal pups in Argentina in 2023, according to the Marine Mammal Center’s website.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD
“The world is experiencing a rapidly spreading outbreak of H5N1, a highly contagious and deadly strain of avian influenza, or bird flu. As the virus jumps from species to species, from wild birds to domesticated birds and even to mammals, global biodiversity faces an existential threat,” the website said.
It is important to protect seals from the flu because they are ocean predators that are vital to maintaining balance in the ecosystem.
“Not only is the loss of each individual animal a tragedy, but recovery from drastic declines in populations like this can take decades and can pose serious risks to ocean health from further imbalance of ecosystems,” the website states.
With the arrival of the avian flu in Hawai‘i, especially with recent reports of a native duck on Kaua‘i dying from the virus, Whoriskey said it is concerning because Hawaiian monk seals do not have natural immunities.
“There is concern that it would cause more severe diseases,” Whoriskey said.
She added: “An infectious disease outbreak hasn’t happened before, but avian flu is spreading, and mortality in seabirds is rising.”
Seabirds share coastal spaces with Hawaiian monk seals, so it wouldn’t be difficult for the virus to spread.
There are only 1,600 Hawaiian monk seals left. A virus outbreak, Whoriskey said, could be potentially catastrophic.
Hawaiian monk seals already face a multitude of threats. Whoriskey said humans play an outside role with marine debris and accidental entanglements. But the animals also are susceptible to toxoplasmosis, a deadly virus spread through cat feces.
Vaccines are not new to Hawaiian monk seals. Whoriskey said the marine mammal center has been giving the endangered animals the morbillivirus vaccine since 2016, which includes immunity against measles and canine distemper.
Whoriskey said she’s seen social media comments from the public that have concerns about testing vaccines on a novel species. She assured that there was a lot of time and effort that went into it before the vaccines were administered.
So much of the debate around vaccines comes down to individual beliefs,” Whoriskey said. But she stressed the bird flu vaccine is a potential life-saving tool that is data driven.
Poultry flock to be culled after bird flu outbreak
UK supermarkets turn to European turkeys as avian flu hits supply
Asda, Lidl and Morrisons understood to be stocking imported branded turkeys to meet Christmas demand
Sarah Butler and Joanna PartridgeSun 21 Dec 2025 06.00 ESTShare
Several of the UK’s big supermarkets have been forced to source turkeys from elsewhere in Europe to keep shelves stocked this Christmas, after avian flu curtailed UK production.
Asda, Lidl and Morrisons are understood to be stocking branded turkey imported from mainland Europe – a move industry sources described as “unprecedented” – to “protect availability” and ensure sufficient supply for festive meals.
All three retailers’ own-label fresh and frozen turkeys will be entirely British-sourced. However, Morrisons is stocking Bernard Matthews-branded turkey from Poland, and Asda is selling a Cherrywood-branded turkey crown from mainland Europe.
Lidl said a small proportion of its branded frozen turkey, sold under the Gressingham label, was sourced from the EU.
More than one industry source claimed Aldi was also sourcing turkeys from Europe. The retailer was approached for comment.
It is understood that non-British birds will account for less than 10% of those expected to be sold.
Retailers often top up their stocks with imported birds to ensure a wide range for customers during the Christmas season, according to a spokesperson for the industry body the British Poultry Council.
However, one industry source said: “Only in exceptional circumstances would we consider alternatives [to UK birds] to maintain availability for customers.”
Marks & Spencer said all its turkey was sourced from Britain or Ireland, where it also had a commitment to local sourcing. The Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Tesco said their turkey was entirely British-sourced.
Matt Hood, a managing director at the Co-op, said: “We are proud to be selling 100% British turkeys this Christmas, as we work all year round to support farmers, in support of our commitment to backing Britain and to only sell British meat and poultry.
“We understand the extreme pressure poultry farmers are currently facing, specifically turkey farms, where the focus is so skewed to this time of year. It is very important retailers support and invest in British farming industry to ensure it can weather the many ups and downs nature throws at it.”
UK poultry producers are battling a “bad season” of avian flu, according to the British Poultry Council, with cases significantly higher than at this point last year, squeezing supplies of Christmas birds including turkeys, chickens and ducks.
There have been 70 confirmed cases of bird flu across the UK less than three months into this season, the vast majority in England. That figure is close to the 81 cases recorded across the whole of the previous season, which ran from 1 October 2024 to 30 September this year.
Preliminary tests confirm bird flu at Queen Anne’s County commercial broiler farm
DEC opens late-season deer hunting for holidays in Southern Zone
Hunting and animal welfare: What the practice does to wild animals
Hunting and animal welfare: What the practice does to wild animals
Trail hunting to be banned under new animal welfare push
Fears the practice is being used as cover for chasing live foxes
Jane DaltonSunday 21 December 2025 14:59 EST
- https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/trail-hunting-ban-fox-hunts-law-b2888515.html
- Copy link
- Bookmark
- 65CommentsGo to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarksClose popover
https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.735.0_en.html#deid=%22%22&eventfe_experiment_ids=%5B%5D&fid=%22goog_820467082%22&genotype_experiment_data=%7B%22experimentStateProto%22%3A%22%5B%5B%5B45713128%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%2C%5B45722344%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45706017%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45685340%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45663239%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45715032%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45675307%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45675308%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45688859%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45656766%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710689%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45710688%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C500%5D%5D%2C%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B775241416%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107958%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45658982%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5B45725657%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B%5B16%2C%5B%5B1%2C%5B%5B31089630%5D%2C%5B31089631%2C%5B%5B45668885%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1000%2C%5B%5B95332046%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95332047%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95333808%5D%2C%5B95333809%2C%5B%5B635466687%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95338769%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95338770%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C45645574%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C2%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95345206%5D%2C%5B95345207%2C%5B%5B45661356%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95351425%5D%2C%5B95351426%2C%5B%5B45676441%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95356068%5D%2C%5B95356069%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356070%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95356071%2C%5B%5B45685601%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C45685602%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C100%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B10%2C%5B%5B95372277%5D%2C%5B95372278%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C745150931%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95373378%2C%5B%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95373379%2C%5B%5B45747172%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107959%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B792614055%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B781107957%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B50%2C%5B%5B95375505%5D%2C%5B95375506%2C%5B%5Bnull%2C749060184%2Cnull%2C%5B%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95375930%5D%2C%5B95375931%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B95376520%2C%5B%5B45734716%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%2C%5B45735891%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5Bnull%2C%5B%5B95378095%5D%2C%5B95378096%2C%5B%5B45740207%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2C%5B1%2C%5B%5B95378629%5D%2C%5B95378630%2C%5B%5B45729602%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5B1%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%5D%2Cnull%2Cnull%2C%5Bnull%2C1000%2C1%2C1000%5D%5D%22%7D&imalib_experiments=%5B95322027%2C95331589%2C95332046%5D&is_eap_loader=false&managed_js_experiment_id=0&page_correlator=3576115590715106&pvsid=1297137200439855&top_accessible_page_url=%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-independent.com%2Fnews%2Fuk%2Fhome-news%2Ftrail-hunting-ban-fox-hunts-law-b2888515.html%22Related video: Drone wars erupt in countryside as foxhunting battles turn hi-tech
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read more
The government has announced a ban on trail hunting to prevent the activity from being used as a cover for foxhunting.
Any ban will raise questions over the future of the approximately 170 hunt packs in England and Wales, who will face a dilemma over whether to continue in a different form or whether to fold.
Hunt opponents – who insist the ban on foxhunting is routinely flouted – celebrated the announcement, which brings to a head years of furious clashes over whether genuine trail hunting takes place.
The proposal, a Labour election manifesto pledge, forms a key part of the government’s long-awaited animal welfare strategy, to be unveiled on Monday.
A public consultation on banning trail hunting is already planned for early next year, but a spokesperson for the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) governing body told The Independent: “Hunts will continue to follow whatever the law requires of them.”
RECOMMENDED
NFL team’s plane suffers ‘mechanical issue’ mid-air forcing emergency landing
Trail hunting set to be banned for fear it is a ‘smokescreen’ for harm
If You Need To Kill Time On Your PC, This Game Is A Must!Heroes of History|
Why Seniors Are Ditching Their Rakes For ThisSeese Pro|
Some hunts have already approached clean-boot hunting groups, such as drag hunts, which do not chase foxes, with a view to joining them, The Independent has been told.
The Hunting Act 2004 made hunting wild mammals illegal, and hunts say they stay within the law by following a scent trail instead of animals. But video evidence has repeatedly shown some hunts still catch and kill foxes.
In a webinar of hunt masters in 2020, leading hunting figures discussed how to create “a smokescreen” around their activities and how to avoid prosecution. In its new strategy, the government acknowledges widespread concern that trail hunting is a smokescreen.
Hunters chased or killed nearly 600 wild animals in the 2023-24 winter season, according to a report by anti-hunt organisation Protect the Wild.
This week, drone footage from Northants Hunt Saboteurs claimed to show a huntsman bundling something into a black sack and carefully handing it over to another rider. Hunt saboteurs who shot the footage allege he was putting a fox killed by hounds in the sack.
A BHSA spokesman, when shown the footage, said it was too unclear to identify the individual, the object or the context. “It would be inappropriate to comment on material filmed covertly and presented without verification. As far as we are aware, the Cottesmore [Hunt] have complied with the law and our regulations,” he said.
Earlier this week, the BHSA ordered that in future, terrier men, who block up earth holes to prevent foxes from escaping a chase, must not attend trail hunting days – in a move interpreted by some as a last-ditch effort to clean up the image of hunting.
The Hunt Saboteurs Association is worried that even if some hunts join forces with drag-hunting groups, it would be difficult to retrain hounds to stop picking up foxes’ scents.
A spokesperson said they feared that some unregistered, mostly farmer-led hunts would “go underground” and continue to hunt in defiance of the ban.
They said: “We are hopeful for a proper ban on trail hunting, which closes the loopholes in the law and blows away the hunting smokescreen.
“This season has already seen wildlife chased and killed under the guise of ‘trail hunting’. A ban is long overdue to end the savage cruelty caused by hunting with hounds. We will wait to see the outcome of the consultation, but it is clear that far stronger measures are urgently needed to protect wildlife.”
A spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance said of plans to ban trail hunting: “The last Labour government said hunts should follow an artificial scent when it spent several hundred hours banning traditional hunting. It would be perverse if they were now to ban that.”
They did not reply when asked whether hunts would obey or flout a ban on trail hunting.
A BHSA spokesperson said that until there is a clear proposal, it would be premature to speculate on what hunts may do or how a ban might be interpreted.
RECOMMENDED
Jim Beam shutting down bourbon production at Kentucky distillery amid Trump’s tariffs
Teen falls to her death exploring building where hit TV series was filmed
Just Add 1 Drop Of This Household Item To Any Dark Spot and Wait 3 MinutesDark Spot Diminisher|
Ask a Pro: “How Long Does $1.5M Last in Retirement?”SmartAsset|
“Trail hunting remains lawful, and we do not accept the premise that it should be banned. It supports livelihoods, keeps small rural businesses going and holds communities together, with well over ten thousand hounds and many thousands of horses kept specifically for this lawful purpose.
“This is more than a pastime – it is part of the economic and social lifeblood of the countryside, something that will be visible again when Boxing Day meets draw large crowds.”
Exposing the Big Game 