Page 47 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #06

BEYOND THE HEADLINES
AGENDA WHAT IS REALLY
CAUSING THE
DECLINE OF
THE RED APE?

O RESCUING ORANGUTANS MAY NOT
ii UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES | BE PART OF THE SOLUTION BE THE BEST WAY TO SAVE THEM P49

Scottish Natural
Heritage has approved
the culling of ravens to
conserve wading birds.

Scottish cull of ravens sanctioned

SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE IS ALLOWING THE KILLING OF 69 RAVENS AYEAR TO PROTECT NESTING WADERS.

A up to 69 ravens each year, has previously identified as one primarily used for driven
licence to kill hundreds of
In allowing the killing of
ravens over the next five
of the hotspots where eagles
grouse shooting.”
Robbie Kernahan denies this,
years in the heart of the
Kernahan, said that it was for
Scottish Highlands has provoked SNH spokesman Robbie have disappeared in suspicious emphasising wader conservation
circumstances in recent years.
an international outcry. Recently “a collaborative trial to explore These included four satellite- as the reason for the licence.
granted by Scottish Natural whether a reduction in ravens tagged golden eagles and two This has been applauded by Alex
Heritage (SNH) – the country’s will help curlews and other white-tailed eagles, the most Hogg, chairman of the Scottish
wildlife and countryside agency ground-nesting wading recent of which Gamekeepers Association, who
– it permits a cull in the sparsely birds to recover from DID YOU disappeared this has said that: “No number of
populated Strathbraan area. their current low spring in Glen keyboard petitions will save the
This has drawn criticism numbers.” RSPB KNOW? Quaich, located in curlew. Only action will.”
from conservationists such as Scotland refutes this The population of the raven cull zone. SNH has now asked its
Chris Packham, who has called justification. In a letter breeding pairs of In writing to SNH specialist committee to review the
it a “slaughter of wildlife”, and to both the Chair of ravens in the UK is also opposing the cull, trial cull, but it has not revoked
Scotland:The Big Picture/NPL been an online petition against Government, the group upland areas of Study Group, said that + FIND OUT MORE
estimated at 7,400.
SNH and the Scottish
by bird researchers. There has
the Scottish Raptor
the licence. Kenny Taylor
Most are found in
the stated concern for
says that its objections
Scotland, the Lake
the cull, signed by more than
District, the north
150,000 people. However, bodies
are in part because the
wader conservation “is
SNH statement:
Pennines, Wales and
representing landowners and
simply a diversion to
licence covers an area
https://bit.ly/2IhtIzw
south-west England.
gamekeepers have welcomed it.
June 2018 of grouse moors SNH kill ravens in upland BBC Wildlife 47