A warning has been issued about the dangers sky lanterns pose to animals as Britain prepares to mark Halloween.
Sky, or ‘Chinese’, lanterns, can be a popular part of the Halloween celebrations - but the RSPCA has reminded the public that they can be “fatal to animals”.
The devices - which are lifted into the air via an open flame heat source - can be ingested by animals, or cause entanglement or entrapment. This can lead to livestock suffering injury, stress or even death.
When ingested the sharp parts of sky lanterns can tear and puncture an animal’s throat or stomach causing internal bleeding.
Lanterns also pose danger as a fire hazard - destroying habitats, and potentially setting animal housing, feed and bedding alight.
NFU chief land management adviser Sam Durham said sky lanterns pose a 'very serious risk' to livestock.
“The NFU continues to encourage councils to ban the lanterns in order to ensure that farmers are able to continue their work without worrying about additional, unnecessary dangers,” Mr Durham said.
“It's important to point out that it's not just farm animals which can be affected. Sky lanterns can cause fires to crops, grassland on moors and bales of hay and straw that have been stacked, which could lead to a loss of buildings.
“The NFU has already seen some councils ban the use of sky lanterns and we would encourage more to follow suit.”
Last month, a ten-year-old girl created a petition calling for the ban on the sale and use of Chinese sky lanterns. It has now reached 3,000 supporters.
Outright Welsh ban
An outright ban on their use across Wales remains the primary objective for the RSPCA Cymru.
However, they have welcomed “considerable progress” in recent years, with 17 of Wales’ 22 Local Authorities having implemented local bans on their release on the land which they control.
Martin Fidler Jones, RSPCA Cymru’s political campaigns manager, said: “Sky lanterns may look pretty - but, in truth, they’re actually just pretty dangerous.
“We know sky lanterns can be a popular part of the Halloween celebrations - but it's important people know they can be fatal to animals. Instead, we urge people across Wales to explore safe alternatives - like stationary candles, nightlights or static lanterns.
“Ultimately, what goes up, must come down - and when these lanterns return to land, animals are at risk of ingesting the material, or even entanglement or entrapment. As a dangerous fire hazard, they can also destroy habitats.”
The public is being urged to take action, and sign RSPCA Cymru’s campaign which urges Councils to implement a ban on their land on the release of sky lanterns - with more than three quarters in Wales now having done so.
The remaining five yet to do so are Ynys Mon, Flintshire, Wrexham, Merthyr and Newport - though the latter is due to discuss the issue at Cabinet level, after full council voted in favour of a ban.
