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Gulls Culled Under License: Animal Groups Outraged
2 Jul
Summary
- Endangered gulls and chicks were culled on a company roof.
- Natural England licensed the killing of red-listed gulls.
- Police found no offenses due to the firm's permission.
Animal welfare advocates have voiced strong disapproval following Natural England's decision to grant a license for the culling of endangered gulls. The incident came to light after reports surfaced of a man targeting lesser black-backed gulls and their chicks with an air rifle-style weapon on the roof of a business in Ipswich last month.
Footage captured on June 24, 2026, showed an individual in an orange hi-vis vest brandishing the gun amidst distressed birds. Natural England confirmed it had issued a license to the company, Sulzer, to kill the birds, even though they are red-listed species. Suffolk Police's rural team investigated the matter. However, they concluded that no offenses had been committed as the company possessed the necessary authorization for the cull.
