Re: RSPB/SNH slaughter of hedgehogs stopped by antihunt laws, now find loophole to blast hedgehogs instead.

On Mon, 22 Aug 2005 06:42:20 GMT, Hambro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Paul) wrote:

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4163822.stm
>
>Shooting cull of isles hedgehogs
>
>Hedgehogs are being shot in the latest stage of the cull
>Officials at Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have confirmed that staff
>are to shoot hedgehogs in the Western Isles this autumn.
>It is the latest development in the agency's controversial cull to
>protect Uist's population of wading birds, but opponents have voiced
>outrage.
>
>The cull of hedgehogs in Uist and Benbecula is entering its fourth
>year.
>
>Previous culls have employed the method of trapping the hedgehogs and
>killing them by lethal injection.
>
>'Unethical' slaughter
>
>Experts at SNH said it was the only humane way to rid the islands of
>the mammals, which were introduced to the area in the 1970's.
>
>However, from next month the agency said it would bring in dogs with
>handlers to locate the hedgehogs.
>
>Marksmen would then use shotguns to kill the creatures because lethal
>injection is not permitted under the new law on hunting with dogs.
>
> This extermination policy is turning from the bizarre to the
>ridiculous
>
>Uist Hedgehog Rescue
>
>But critics of the cull have expressed revulsion.
>
>Uist Hedgehog Rescue, a coalition of organisations consisting of
>Advocates for Animals, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society,
>Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust and International Animal Rescue, say
>the creatures should be relocated to the mainland instead, as killing
>them is inhumane.
>
>A spokesman said: "UHR is appalled at the thought of healthy hedgehogs
>being blasted away with shotguns.
>
>"Is this really how the public expects their taxes to be spent by SNH,
>a government-funded so-called 'conservation' organisation?
>
>"This extermination policy is turning from the bizarre to the
>ridiculous.
>
>"This unethical scenario would not be necessary if SNH and the other
>members of the Uist Wader Project would work with UHR to catch and
>relocate the hedgehogs live to the mainland."
>
>He added: "SNH exists to protect Scotland's natural heritage, not to
>kill it. Killing these hedgehogs is flying in the face of expert
>advice, decades of practical experience and public opinion."
>
>Protect birds
>
>Sarah Roe, of Scottish Natural Heritage, said: "There are only a few
>hedgehogs left on North Uist and using dogs is the best way of finding
>them.
>
>"It is very important because we do not want them to breed and
>important to protect the birds in the area. Some of the bird's
>populations have declined by half.
>
>"It is against the law to use any other method of killing the
>hedgehogs - it is quite clear you need to use a shotgun if you are
>going to use dogs."
>
>There are around 4,000 hedgehogs across North and South Uist and
>Benbecula.
>
>Previous culls were carried out on the islands in spring 2003 and
>2004.
>
>
>
>
>Animal activists from Uist Hedgehog Rescue have been offering ?20 for
>every live animal they are given.
>
>SNH wants to cull the animals because of the threat they say they pose
>to important species of ground nesting birds - whose eggs they eat.
>
>When they come out of hibernation they eat the eggs of internationally
>important birds - including the lapwing, redshank and ring plover -
>which breed in the islands.

Are these birds not as internationally important on the mainland?

Or is it that the islands want more birds to attract tourism?


Angus Macmillan
www.roots-of-blood.org.uk
www.killhunting.org
www.con-servation.org.uk
.

Relevant Pages

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