No sky lanterns this Halloween: Plea
Sky, or ‘Chinese’, lanterns, can be a popular part of the Halloween celebrations - but RSPCA Cymru 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 wildlife, pets or farm animals 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. Marine life is also endangered by lanterns falling into the sea.
An outright ban on their use across Wales remains the primary objective for the RSPCA - 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: “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.
“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.”
PICTURE: An owl who sadly died as a consequence of a sky lantern.
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