Skip to main content

Extra Measures To Protect Scotland's Golden Eagles

By
Almost a third of golden eagles being tracked by satellite died in suspicious circumstance, scientists have found. 



The Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) research identified that the majority of cases were found where land is intensively managed for driven grouse shooting. 

Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, confirmed to the Scottish Parliament she will now set up an expert group to look at managing grouse moors sustainably and within the law.  Following a request by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee the group will also advise on the option of licensing grouse shooting businesses. 

The report studied the movements of 131 young golden eagles over a 12 year period, and found more than 40 had disappeared in suspicious circumstances. It also found there was no link between fitting satellite tags and the disappearance of the birds of prey and ruled out any connection with the position of wind turbines. 

In response Ms Cunningham outlined a package of new measures designed to protect birds of prey, the wider Scottish environment and the reputation of those who abide by the law.  

Ms Cunningham, said; "The findings of this research are deeply concerning and will give rise to legitimate concerns that high numbers of golden eagles, and other birds of prey, continue to be killed in Scotland each year. There is every reason to believe that similar levels of persecution affect untagged golden eagles, as well as those we are able to track via satellite tags. 

"We have already targeted wildlife criminals, and those who sanction such crimes, by introducing measures such as vicarious liability and restrictions on the use of general licences. But Scottish Ministers has always said they would go further if required, and that is what I am doing today, 

"The continued killing of protected species of birds of prey damages the reputation of law-abiding gamekeepers, landowners and indeed the country as a whole. Those who carry out these crimes do so in defiance of the will of Parliament, the people, and their own peers. That must end.

"This report identifies specific problem areas which will allow Police Scotland to adopt a targeted approach and I would also encourage members of the public to report any suspicious activity to the police. 

"The range of measures we will introduce over the longer-term will build on the progress that we have made to-date and tackle outdated practices and attitudes. By looking at ways of strengthening the legal protection for birds or prey we are sending out a strong message that Scotland's wildlife is for everyone to enjoy, not for criminals to destroy for their own ends."  

The Scottish Government will set up an independently-led group to look at the environmental impact of grouse moor management practices, immediately review all available legal measures, Increase resources for the detection and investigation of wildlife crime and work with Police Scotland to pilot the use of special constables in the Cairngorms National Park, examine how best to protect the valuable role of gamekeepers in rural Scotland and commission research into the costs and benefits of large shooting estates to Scotland's economy and biodiversity. 
Labels:
Location: Scotland, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The art of the commute.

By
The commute is a relatively common experience for members of the British public. It is an art form of tired worn people, dancing amongst each other and fighting for seats. The commute is where you will most likely catch every cold of the season. It is where you'll grow extremely well at balancing sue to endless hour's forced into standing due to the seemingly endless shortage of seating. But the worst thing many would say about their daily commute is the boredom. Without a friend of 'travel buddy' on is isolated on the commute. A battle between courtesy and the ability to complete ignore those around you.  It is this boredom that drains many people on their commute, the inability to do anything slowly sucking ones soul away. The art to the commute is to find a way to fight of this boredom. To read is one of the best and most widely adopted method to escape boredoms clutches, however when forced to standing, reading becomes less of a liable option. Another way to d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Red Nose Day

By
Red nose day is fast approaching, with brilliantly entertaining shows all ready hitting our screens to raise money for the event, including the so far fantastic and hilarious Bake-Off for Red nose day, which has yet to disappoint. As with every year the red noses are out on the streets, however unlike previous years this time there are a total of nine noses to collect, including a possible golden prize winning nose, and also unlike last year and to some people great irritation the noses are bagged, making it a complete gamble as to which one you'll get and making it even harder to collect them all. As of last year the Red Nose day group have released a selection for other exciting red nose day products, including, my personal favorite, a red nose day teapot! However do not get too excited, although most of this years Red Nose day products are available for purchase from the red nose website, others have been distributed to particular stores and are only available from the...
1 comment
Read more

Driving Lessons

By
If you are anything like me you will have put learning to drive off until you absolutely had too. There where a number of things which prevented me from getting behind the wheel, and, unlike most the cost wasn't the biggest thing. No, my biggest worry about driving was my personal disbelief that I, only of eight stone and five feet one inch, could possibly, ever, make something as big as a car move. Every time my mind climbed over the wall that stopped me from thinking I could move the car I was assaulted by fears of endless stalling, the possibility of turning the car directly into a ditch, veering into a car that was overtaking for I failed to remember where the break was, and the ultimate worry that I would turn an inicent by-stander into a pancake. My first ever driving lesson was just before last Christmas. My mother arranged it, refusing to accept my refusals to do it. Thankfully she did arrange it for a tutor from her area and for when I would be visiting for the holid...
Post a Comment
Read more