First Minister urged to act after latest bird of prey persecution case
Posted 15th July 2019
Revive, the coalition for grouse moor reform is adding its voice to calls for Scotland’s First Minister to act after it was revealed that a hen harrier has become the latest victim of bird of prey persecution on Scotland’s grouse moors.
The latest case involved a bird of prey which had been caught in a spring trap on the Leadhills Estate in South Lanarkshire and the further discovery of a set spring trap in a hen harrier nest next to two unhatched eggs. This follows the disappearance of two satellite tagged golden eagles on a Scottish grouse moor in Perthshire in April.
Footage of the case was released by campaign group Wild Justice, which is now urging the First Minister to act to eradicate illegal raptor persecution.
Campaign Manager for Revive Max Wiszniewski said:
“It is desperately sad to hear of yet another case of birds of prey being targeted on Scotland’s grouse moors and absolutely staggering that someone would be so callous as to set a trap within a nest. This simply confirms our view that raptors are being deliberately and systematically targeted to protect grouse on shooting estates.
“The Revive coalition fully supports Wild Justice’s calls for the First Minister to intervene. Grouse moors are at the centre of a whole host of unsavoury activities which exist purely to increase the number of grouse available for game shooting.”
A review of grouse moor management practices was ordered by the Scottish Government in 2017 with a view to introducing a licensing scheme for game-shooting estates. The review, led by Professor Werritty, is due to be published this summer.
ENDS
Notes to editor
- Revive is a coalition of like-minded organisations working for grouse moor reform in Scotland. Coalition partners include Common Weal, OneKind, Friends of the Earth Scotland, League Against Cruel Sports and Raptor Persecution UK.
- Wild Justice’s video can be downloaded here.
- Media enquiries to Louise Robertson on 07930 539832 / louise@messagematters.co.uk