ANIMAL welfare campaigners are dressing up as giant rabbits to protest at the number of small mammals killed on New Forest roads.
Members of the newly formed Rabbit Against Road Kill (RARK) are staging the eye-catching stunts in a bid to encourage drivers to take extra care.
Animal owners have often voiced concern about the large number of ponies and cattle killed in the Forest, especially at this time of year.
However, many birds, badgers and rabbits are also dying under the wheels of cars and lorries.
RARK spokesman Helen Tinker, pictured, said: "Many animals hit by vehicles don't die immediately but crawl away and die a slow, painful death.
"Members of RARK will be popping up throughout the Forest to raise awareness about the number of wild animals killed on the roads."
More than 40 badgers have been killed on Forest roads this year. Other casualties include deer, of which 67 were fatally injured on the A35.
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