Chinese Lanterns hazard to wildlife (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Chinese Lanterns hazard to wildlife

4:58pm Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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SIR — Chinese lanterns are lightweight frames which gently float into the air powered by the heat of a candle.

The candle light illuminates the lantern and they look very appealing as they float into the night sky.

Unfortunately when they land in the countryside they can be ingested by grazing animals such as horses, cattle and wild deer.

If the wire pierces the gut the animal will die slowly in agony. There are now a number of animal fatalities due to these lanterns in this region.

Please think twice before releasing lanterns into the sky and save any more animals from a painful death.

Julian Lewis, Chairman, Hampshire NFU, Bentworth, Alton.