The charity is questioning
whether current wildlife protection legislation is fit for purpose.
Last updated: 14 December
2018 - 12.10am
Conservationists are calling for
tougher regulation of grouse moors to end the persecution of Scotland’s
raptors.
RSPB Scotland has published a new
report which it said details the clear associations between the decline or
absence of these birds in some areas and intensive grouse moor management and
wildlife crime, and is calling for action to tackle the issue.
The study, titled The Illegal
Killing Of Birds Of Prey In Scotland 2015-17, found that the vast majority
of raptor persecution incidents are occurring in areas of Scotland’s uplands
managed for intensive driven grouse shooting.
Over that three-year period there
were 38 confirmed, detected incidents of illegal killing of protected birds of
prey, including shooting, trapping, illegal poisoning and nest destruction;
however, the report suggests the crimes being recorded are a fraction of
what is actually taking place.
Intensive grouse moor management
is having a disproportionate impact on our important upland ecosystems and
specially protected birds
Duncan Orr-Ewing, RSPB Scotland
Meanwhile, during those three
years, five satellite-tagged hen harriers and eight satellite-tagged golden
eagles “disappeared”, with 11 of those 13 incidents occurring on land
managed for driven grouse shooting, the charity said.
The RSPB questions whether
current wildlife protection legislation is fit for purpose and recommends
that driven grouse shooting estates should be licensed, with the right to
shoot dependent on “legal, sustainable management practices”.
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