Wildlife activist Chris Packham has lashed out at vile ‘bullies’ who strung up a dead badger outside his home, the latest rotting animal to be dumped at his door.
The TV presenter, who has railed against badger culling, was sickened to see the female sow hanging by the neck from a wooden gate at the front of his house.
Packham’s animal rights campaigning has made him a repeat target for thugs, who in the past have also left dead birds and a snared fox corpse outside his Marchwood, New Forest, property.
He arrived home at 12.30am on Thursday night to encounter the grim animal.
But the BBC Springwatch presenter, who was disturbed to find the badger had recently given birth, refuses to be cowed even in the face of death threats and posted human excrement.
The 58-year-old Packham today said: ‘My heart sank, I was hoping we had got over this. I’m not going to be intimidated by this.
Wildlife activist Chris Packham has lashed out at vile ‘bullies’ who strung up a dead badger outside his home
The TV presenter, who has railed against badger culling, was sickened to see the female sow hanging by the neck from a wooden gate at the front of his house
‘I have made it very clear that this is not going to stop me from doing what I do, which is making the countryside a better place for wildlife.
‘It was tied up in the middle of the gate… It looks like it died in a road traffic accident – the injuries are not consistent with shooting.
‘There are not any broken limbs, which you would normally see in a badger that has been run over.
‘It did not have rigor mortis last night. It was very muddy. At least, it was not killed deliberately to torment me.’
Packham said he now believes the culprit tormenting him with dead animals lives nearby.
He said: ‘We are pretty certain this is local people. I don’t think this is someone who has come from the other side of the country to do this.
‘They know where I live. It’s been going on for some time. I think the message isn’t getting through.
Packham’s animal rights campaigning has made him a repeat target for thugs, who in the past have also left dead birds and a snared fox corpse (pictured) outside his Marchwood, New Forest, property
Packham said he now believes the culprit tormenting him with dead animals lives nearby
‘I’m carrying on what I’m doing and I’m continuing to do so because I think it’s the right thing to do.
‘My partner Charlotte is cross about it. She just thinks “get a grip, it’s not the way to behave, it does not do anyone any favours”.
‘My step-daughter Megan is upset about it. She sees that we need to make progress in the countryside.
‘The number of animals are rapidly declining and habitats are disappearing and we need to protect those that remain.’
Packham said he would rather critics write him letters to vent their opposition or invite him to debates.
He added: ‘Some people are so resistant to change. They have to lash out like this – it’s bullying.
In April last year, Packham involved police after finding dead birds hanging outside his house
Packham said his partner Charlotte (right) is cross about the targeting and urged the thugs to ‘get a grip’
‘I’m worried about security – I don’t own this house, I rent it. Honestly, I see it as part of a process.
‘I have just got to accept that not everyone will behave in a reasonable and rational way when they are being challenged.
‘I have not been on the badger cull soapbox recently and I have not been speaking about fox hunting since after Christmas and New Year.
‘It was a bit of a surprise. It’s such a destructive thing to do.’
Hampshire Constabulary confirmed officers were investigating the latest dead animal dumping.
A force spokesman said: ‘Officers are making enquiries following a report of an incident at a property in Marchwood.
‘It was reported that a dead badger had been left outside the property. It was found in the early hours of Friday. Enquiries are ongoing.’