Plea over animal hit-and-run deaths in national park

Dan Rangecroft is the fifth generation of his family to practise commoning on the New Forest

The deaths of animals on roads in the New Forest "never gets any easier", a livestock owner has said.

Since late August, at least six animals, including a Shetland pony, pig and cow, died after being struck by vehicles in the national park - with the drivers leaving the scene without reporting the crashes.

Dan Rangecroft, a New Forest commoner, said he wanted to raise awareness after a donkey given to his young daughter was killed near Beaulieu.

New Forest agisters - who assist commoners with managing their free-roaming animals - urged motorists to slow down as the evenings draw in during the autumn.

Warning: This story contains images some may find distressing

The New Forest Commoners - who occupy land or property with ancient rights attached - are permitted to graze their livestock on the open forest.

Mr Rangecroft, a fifth-generation commoner, had given the donkey, named Millie, to his 16-month-old daughter but received a call on 28 August informing him the animal had been hit on a road, and her leg broken.

Millie had to be put down because of her injuries.

"It was about nine o’clock in the evening and you get the dreaded phone call that most commoners do get at that time of night - one of the New Forest agisters ringing you," he said.

The donkey was found to have a broken leg and had to be put down by the roadside

Mr Rangecroft added: "I’m 25 and have had an animal involved in an accident generally every year, if not a couple of times a year.

"Unfortunately it’s just something that you have to get used to, but it never gets any easier."

Agister Robert Maton, who looks after the welfare of commoners' livestock, dealt with the aftermath.

He said: "My message to all drivers, is that when you have lights coming towards you, cut your speed in half to 20 - that way you'll be able to stop if you are unlucky enough to see a pony in front of you."

On 18 September, a young pig that had been put out in the forest under the ancient tradition of pannage was struck and killed in Bramshaw.

A pig was killed by a car near Bramshaw while out on the forest during the pannage season

Farm worker Patrick Langdown blamed "another careless driver not giving a damn".

"It wasn't a sick animal, it was an animal that literally was minding its own business and doing the job it was put out on the forest to do," he said.

The following day a New Forest mare also died in another hit and run, according to the New Forest Roads Awareness campaign group.

Two days later, a Shetland mare, Beauty, was struck near Sway. She was put down after suffering a broken leg.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said a 26-year-old man from Totton had been charged with drink driving following a collision with a cow on the B3078 Roger Penny Way on 16 September.

New Forest Roads Awareness posted an image of blood on a road after a pony was struck by a car on 19 September

The numbers of animals killed on New Forest roads has shown a downward trend in recent years following high profile safety campaigns.

However, there was a total of 92 accidents involving animals in 2023, up by 10 on 2022.

Gilly Jones, from New Forest Roads Awareness, said the latest spate of hit and runs was of "huge concern".

"We know that some vehicles have suffered considerable damage, due to the debris left behind," she said.

"To leave any animal suffering in the road is just plain heartless."