Cull meeting will take place
100,000 people against raven plan
Over 100,000 people have told Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to reconsider culling over 300 ravens over the next five years at a Perthshire estate, leading the Scottish Government to agree to meet with protestors.
SNH has granted a licence, effective since April 4 this year, to exterminate the birds at Strathbraan Estate, near Murthly, in order to protect the dwindling wader population.
SNH will enforce a number of measures, such as allowing only ravens in groups of three or more birds to be shot, and not within 500m of known nest sites. Ravens may not be shot at roost sites.
However, the move has been blasted by members of the public and conservationists across the UK, including Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, who said: “The already beleagured reputation of SNH lies in bloodied tatters and I would suggest that to reverse this ill-judged and ruinous decision - as quickly as possible - would be a jolly good idea.”
Also critical of the call is Duncan Orr-Ewing, RSPB Scotland’s head of species and land management, who Chris Packham
said: “Like so many of our supporters, we were similarly outraged when we learned that SNH has, after some deliberation, finally decided to issue a research licence to local estates to cull over 60 non-breeding ravens per annum over five years in the Strathbraan area of Perthshire.”
Musselburgh-based campaigner Alison Lowther set up an online petition against the cull in April, which this month surpassed 100,000 signatures, forcing SNH chair Mike Cantlay to reply.
He stated that the Inverness- based body is remaining firm on its position, but representatives have offered to meet with RSPB and local campaigners.
Mr Cantlay said: “I welcome that so many people in this country care passionately about the welfare of all our wildlife species.
“This has been shown in the volume of correspondence we have received, both positive and negative. In response, I have offered to facilitate a meeting between the RSPB and the local community group in Strathbraan.
“Strict conditions apply to all licences issued by SNH. This includes the means by which birds are controlled, and in this instance, also ensuring that all of the appropriate monitoring is set and records kept of what is taking place.
“Ravens are currently on the Green list with no indication that licenced control is having any impact on the population of this species.
“This trial will help us and others to better understand the impact of ravens on species in grave danger. It permits the control of 69 ravens this year.”
You can sign Ms Lowther’s petition at: www.change.org/p/stopproposed-raven-cull-by-scottishnatural-heritage
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