New data has revealed more than 10,000 animals were released into the New Forest last year, but more were killed or injured in crashes.

The data produced by the Verderers of the New Forest, whose role is to protect and regulate the New Forest, conserving its landscape and wildlife, has revealed that during 2023, 10,509 animals were turned out, 43 killed and 21 injured.

There were 5,561 ponies, 4,075 cattle, 475 pigs, 235 donkeys and 235 sheep.

According to the figures, 27 ponies, seven castles, four pigs, two donkeys, and three sheep died in crashes.

Most, 67, happened during the night when visibility is reduced.

The data revealed an increase in the number of animals turned out compared to 2022, with 10,340. That year, 41 animals were killed and 19 injured.

Miss Sue Westwood, clerk to the Verderers, pointed out that all ponies, cattle, donkeys, pigs, and sheep have owners and that when an accident happens, a person is affected, and for the majority, a griever.

Miss Westwood said: “They are not ‘wild’ in the true sense of the word.  They are classed as semi-feral.  This is important.

“When an animal is killed or injured, a person is affected, some of which are children.

“To some, it is a financial loss, but a lot of owners will grieve as well.  It’s not nice to think your pony was hit and fatally injured by a vehicle, and often, the animal is not killed outright.

“We always hope the driver will report the accident immediately, but every year, a proportion of drivers don’t.

“Animals have been left all night with broken limbs or a broken back in a ditch. That is inexcusable. Drivers won’t be prosecuted or fined if they kill or injure an animal so long they report it.”

However, she said that if they don’t report it and are caught, the police will prosecute them for failing to stop and report and sometimes for causing unnecessary suffering.

She added: “There is a reward of up to £5,000 for information that leads to the conviction of a driver responsible for a hit and run animal RTC in the Forest.”

Miss Westwood suggested that one reason for this increase is people returning to offices for work after Covid-19 saw a boom in homeworking.

“The increase in accidents since 2020/2021 is probably due to more people coming back to work after Covid.

“There are more drivers back on the roads at commuter time.  Other than that, I don’t think anyone really knows why the accident rate fluctuates.

“Weather will have a part to play, of course. There are far more accidents over winter when it is dark at commuter time. If the weather is freezing, Highways put down salt, and we know that attracts the animals. Rain makes it harder for drivers to see, as does bright sunlight, especially in spring and autumn when the sun is low in the sky.”

Verderers indicated that the most dangerous roads are “the same now as they have always been”.

They include the B3078 Cadnam to Fordingbridge, B3055 Sway to Brockenhurst and then Brockenhurst to Beaulieu, and the B3054 Lymington to Beaulieu and then Beaulieu to Dibden.

When asked how aware drivers are of animals, she said that people are aware of their importance but are not aware of animal behaviour.

“Drivers who have had accidents with animals have said to me on numerous occasions ‘but I thought it saw me coming’,” she said.

“They think the animals have road sense, which, of course, they haven’t.

“The most important thing people can do to help is to drive carefully across the Forest. Slow down and move over away from the animals when they are grazing on the verges.

“Don’t speed past at 40mph, or even 30mph, just inches away from an animal. If that animal decides to walk into the road, and they do, the driver will never stop in time.

“Also, slow down at night in particular, and at other times of poor visibility.  The speed limit over much of the Forest is 40 mph, but that is a limit, it isn’t a target, and it isn’t always a safe speed.”

Recently, police and crime commissioner Donna Jones met (August 14) with district and parish councillors for the New Forest after several animal welfare incidents during a weekend.

One horse suffered a broken leg in Ashurst and had to be put down. At the same time, police were called near the Balmer Lawn in Brockenhurst to clear nails and broken glass to prevent injury.

Another horse was caught on a cattle grid but freed without further issues.

If you are involved in or witness a road traffic accident in which a vehicle collides with an animal, contact 999 or 02380 282052.