A planned birds of prey display at the Hopetown Darlington railway museum has been canceled after vegan activist groups raised objections. The event, scheduled for July 31 and featuring eagles, falcons, and hawks from the Walworth Birds of Prey team, was axed after local campaign groups voiced concerns.
Darlington Vegans, North East Animal Rights, and Freedom for Animals had all urged the museum to cancel the event, arguing against the use of live animals. A spokesperson for Darlington Vegans stated that such events "force wild animals to perform unnatural behaviour such as flying to human cues... purely for crowd spectacle." The group added that it "reinforces the harmful idea that wildlife exists for human exploitation and handling" rather than promoting ecological understanding.
While Hopetown Darlington asserted that "appropriate welfare, accreditation and safety standards were in place," the museum stated it had listened to the local concerns. A spokesperson for Freedom for Animals expressed gratitude to the museum for choosing a "more compassionate path," and North East Animal Rights also conveyed their pleasure with the cancellation.
The decision sparked a political reaction, with Darlington Conservatives suggesting on social media that the Green Party was behind the cancellation. They claimed the museum, under a Labour Council, needed all the footfall it could get and should not yield to the Greens' demands. A spokesperson for Darlington Borough Greens denied this, stating the decision was "entirely out of the Green Party's control." The Green Party clarified its policy opposes using animals solely for entertainment and public display but acknowledged the role of public support for zoos and wildlife rehabilitators.
Darlington Borough Council and Walworth Birds of Prey have been approached for comment.