210 A Nurse Table UK reported collecting offences by year Offence Possession of dead wild birds or taxidermy Egg Collecting and Egg Thefts Total 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 15 12 13 39 44 65 80 43 55 33 46 25 31 14 21 Source: RSPB Annual Reports on Wild Bird Crime albeit the taking of wild birds’ eggs has been unlawful in the UK since the introduction of the Protection of Birds Act 1954 For persons found guilty of possession offences, Magistrates have the power to impose maximum sentences of £5,000 fine and/or six month’s imprisonment per egg.2 The prevalence of egg collecting is difficult to ascertain but in the UK relates to a small but persistent group of offenders In 2013 (at time of writing the most recent year for which figures are available), the RSPB recorded 14 reported incidents’ of egg collecting and egg thefts; a significant reduction on previous years as shown in Table This also compares with 41 reports received in 2007, and an average number of 66 reports received between 2003 and 2007 The RSPB argues that the introduction of custodial sentences by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 has had a ‘positive effect in reducing egg-collecting activity in the UK’ (RSPB 2009) although recidivism remains a significant issue In England and Wales, the law also creates a strict liability offence in respect of possessing a dead wild bird or any part of a dead wild bird (Section 1(2)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) and creates offences in relation to selling dead wild birds (Section 6(2)(a) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) The law also makes it an offence, under Section 1(3) of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, for a person to possess a dead badger, or part of a dead badger, unless he can prove that the badger had not been killed in contravention of either the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, or its predecessor, the Badgers Act 1973 While space does not permit a detailed discussion of the UK, the USA or international law concerning the possession of live or dead animals, these examples illustrate how wildlife protection law addresses some aspects of collecting activity, classifying them as undesirable and prohibited activities Schaffner (2011, p 189) argues that generally current law ‘allows humans to use animals for a variety of purposes including breeding and confining Sentencing information correct at the time of writing