Railway museum axes its free family birds of prey display after vegan activists complained eagles and owls would be 'forced to perform unnatural behaviour'

By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER Published: 11:44, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 11:50, 14 July 2026 A free birds of prey display at a railway museum has been cancelled following pressure from vegan groups. Hopetown Darlington had planned for a display from the Walworth Birds of Prey team on July 31, but the event has been axed after concerns were raised by local campaign groups. Animal rights groups have since expressed their delight over the decision after writing to the museum calling for the event, which would have featured eagles, falcons and hawks, to be cancelled. The Darlington Vegans, North East Animal Rights and Freedom for Animals all called for organisers to pull the event, urging the venue not to use live animals. Hopetown Darlington said all 'appropriate welfare, accreditation and safety standards were in place' but they had listened to local concerns.   A spokesperson for Darlington Vegans told the BBC that the event 'force[s] wild animals to perform unnatural behaviour such as flying to human cues... purely for crowd spectacle'. They added: 'Rather than promoting a genuine understanding of raptor ecology, it reinforces the harmful idea that wildlife exists for human exploitation and handling.' The flying display would have seen expert handlers provide talks on bird habitats, food chains, life cycles and conservation, as well as photo opportunities.  Th flying display from the Walworth Birds of Prey team would have seen expert handlers provide talks on bird habitats, food chains, life cycles and conservation, as well as photo opportunities Hopetown Darlington had planned for a display from the Walworth Birds of Prey team on July 31, but the event has now been axed after concerns were raised by local campaign groups A spokesperson for Freedom for Animals said: 'Wild animals don't exist to perform for crowds or be used as attractions - so thank you to Hopetown Darlington for listening to the concerns raised and choosing a more compassionate path, and to everyone who helped make this outcome possible.'  Meanwhile, a spokesperson for North East Animal Rights said: 'We are pleased that this event has been cancelled and thank Hopetown for making this decision.' A spokesperson for Hopetown Darlington said: 'While all appropriate welfare, accreditation and safety standards were in place, we have listened to the concerns raised by local campaign groups and have taken the decision to cancel the planned Birds of Prey flying display.'  Darlington Conservatives took to social media following the announcement, claiming that the Green Party was behind the decision. They claimed that 'Hopetown Darlington is being allowed to fail by this Labour Council and needs all footfall it can get' and that 'Labour should not be buckling to the demands of the Greens'. 'What next dogs handing a paw for treats is deemed non canine like behaviour,' they added. A spokesperson for Darlington Borough Greens responded by saying the 'decision to cancel the event was entirely out of the Green Party's control'. 'We fully support all our members and recognise they have passions and interests outside the Green Party. 'Green Party policy is clear about solely using animals for entertainment and public display but we do recognise that zoos, and other wildlife rehabilitators fund their work through public support. 'Hopetown is an amazing venue and the management team do an incredible job of arranging events throughout the year so we would hope that no one would boycott it because of this political showboating. 'The decision to cancel the event was entirely out of the Green Party's control.' The Daily Mail has approached Darlington Borough Council and Walworth Birds of Prey.