Who are the animals that have most inspired people in 2013 to add their voices to the growing movement for animals? Leading up to the end of the year, AWP is celebrating the causes, campaigns and characters that have been at the forefront of helping make history for animals. Each day until the end of the year (apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day) we’ll be focusing on another story. Please share far and wide to help spread the good news for animals.

Day 3: Red the Stag

Red is one of around nine estimated adult red deer left in the Quantocks in Somerset. This year, the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) set out to highlight the dangers that Red and his kind live through in deer hunting season.

The open hunting season on red stags (male deer) is 1^st May to 31^st July, but for hinds (female deer) it is 1^st April to 31^st Oct. However, LACS was concerned for Red’s safety after alleged threats from the local hunting group, The Quantock Staghounds.

LACS head of campaigns Rebecca Taylor told the local Somerset press: “We started monitoring Red fearing he could be the next victim of the staghounds after hunt supporters were heard saying that if they couldn’t find a stag to hunt on the hills, they would come after him.

“Our fears were proven to be well founded. Throughout the season there were attempts made by the Quantock Staghounds to scare Red from the safety of League-owned sanctuary land.”

Red became a Facebook favourite with regular updates from LACS who have worked hard in the open hunting season to keep Red on safe ground in their sanctuary.

Taylor carried on: “We utterly condemn the Quantock Staghounds for continuing their crusade in chasing and killing these beautiful wild animals, even in spite of the desperately low population figures.”

Staghunting was banned by the Hunting Act 2004, but there are restrictions and exemptions. A hunt following a hind can last for up to three hours, in which the terrified deer is chased to her death by a pack of riders and, following the Hunting Ban, up to two dogs.

The local hunting groups claim that their activities are supported by local communities and farmers in the management of deer populations. However, a number of lawsuits have been brought against them for contravening the hunting ban. Quantock Staghounds huntsman Richard Down has been convicted of unlawful hunting twice, the second time for hunting sick deer with an illegal number of dogs.

Head of Investigations for LACS, Paul Tillsley, said: “The Quantock Staghounds and the Devon & Somerset Staghounds have been determined to hunt as close to land where the League owns the sporting rights as they can. From August onwards a number of stags have escaped with their lives by fleeing onto protected League land, despite hunt supporters doing all they could to prevent the terrified stag from reaching safety. Unfortunately, there has been a number of harrowing incidents involving stags that didn’t quite make it.”

The deer suffer prolonged and terrifying deaths as a result of the hunts that are determined to continue hunting animals in the name of sport.

But for much of the open season, Red was safely protected on LACS-owned land. However, the LACS are actively campaigning to protect and strengthen the Hunting Act 2004, which has come under severe pressure this year of being repealed, from pro-hunting organisations and members of the Conservative Party.

Can you make 2014 an even safer place for animals like Red by becoming a visionary for animals? Support the Animal Welfare Party’s campaign in the EU Elections in May. If you live in London you can PLEDGE TO VOTE, and if you live anywhere and care about animals you can support us in our campaign to raise funds. Fundraising is crucial in our efforts to make history for animals. Make the difference now.

Image of Red (c) David Cronin