By Kevin KeaneBBC Scotland's
environment correspondent
2 May 2018
Scottish Natural Heritage has
defended its controversial decision to allow ravens to be killed for the
protection of wading birds.
The licence, for the Strathbraan
area of Perth and Kinross, has prompted outrage from conservationists because
ravens are a protected species.
But wading birds, such as
lapwings and curlews, are in a rapid decline which is "reaching crisis
point."
Land managers say the control
measures allow all species to thrive.
Gamekeepers say the ravens often
arrive in glens in significant numbers where they attack and kill the wading
birds.
RSPB Scotland insists there is
little evidence that ravens are the main cause of the decline in numbers.
Nick Halfhide, head of
sustainable development at Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), told BBC Scotland:
"We really understand that people find this a difficult topic. Killing one
species to protect another isn't something that others like, but unfortunately
it's something land managers do on a regular basis and they have to do that to
protect their interests.
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