Bird charity sacks Chris Packham for 'becoming too political'

Bird charity breaks ties with Chris Packham because outspoken broadcaster was ‘becoming too political’ and saying people should consider breaking the law

  • Rehabilitation charity Raptor Rescue has severed ties with the BBC Presenter 
  • The charity says Mr Packham’s actions were ‘beginning to split the membership’
  • Mr Packham had been involved with the charity for 29 years, since 1994 

TV Presenter Chris Packham has lost his role with a Bird of Prey rehabilitation charity for becoming too ‘political’, which was dividing the views of its members. 

Mr Packham, who had been involved in the charity for decades, was removed as a patron more than a year ago, but his profile remained on the website until recently.

The charity claimed it hadn’t heard from Mr Packham ‘in a long time’.

It also said his views were ‘beginning to split the membership’, when members are bird lovers and don’t necessarily like the wildlife presenter’s ‘political side’.

Pictured: Chris Packham showing his support at an Extinction Rebellion protest

The BBC Springwatch star has been open about his support for eco-groups Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.

He urged the public in a recent Channel 4 documentary to consider breaking the law to protect the climate and said a ‘tornado of change’ was needed to stop global warming. 

Chairman of Raptor Rescue, Malcom Robbins, told The Telegraph: ‘He has now even started talking about breaking the law. Irrespective of our personal feelings, as a charity there is no way we could support that.’

Pictured: Chris Packham’s patron profile on the Raptor Rescue website which has now been taken down

Mr Packham remains the vice-president of the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the Butterfly Conservation.

Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, Tim Bonner, told The Telegraph that charities might find themselves in a tricky relationship with the BBC Presenter who he claims is ‘becoming ever more divisive’ and ‘alienating’ members of the public.

Mr Packham recently blasted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for delays in the phasing out petrol vehicles. 

He sent the PM a legal challenge over his decision to delay the phase-out of new gas boilers and petrol and diesel cars. 

The TV presenter said he will apply to the High Court to challenge this in a judicial review if Rishi Sunak does not reverse the changes he announced, arguing that such a delay was unlawful.  

Mr Packham also recently sent an open letter to I’m a Celebrity hosts Ant and Dec, criticising the way the ITV series exploits animals.

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