A crackdown on cruelty towards birds of prey has been launched after the “most brazen display of raptor persecution” yet seen in Scotland.
Last month whistle blowers claimed the first nest made by a rare eagle on the east coast in 150 years had been destroyed. Now, new measures have been announced by environment minister Paul Wheelhouse.
These have been welcomed in Angus, where the depute convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee backed the moves.
Angus South MSP Graeme Dey said: “Illegal persecution of raptors whether by poisoning, illegal trapping or shooting is a blight on the reputation of Scotland’s countryside and anything which can deter these barbaric practises must be supported.
“In 2012 we had a welcome reduction on the number of poisoning cases. However, it is clear from a number of recent well-publicised cases and others under investigation that this progress has not been maintained.
“Therefore, the minister’s announcement is as necessary as it is welcome.”
In his capacity as chairman of PAW (Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime) Scotland, Mr Wheelhouse intends to establish a group to carry out a review and then report on how wildlife crime is treated within the criminal justice
system.
Another measure being undertaken by the minister is to ask Scottish Natural Heritage, in their capacity as the authority for licensing decisions, to examine how and in what circumstances they can restrict the use of general licences to trap and shoot wild birds on land where they have good reason to believe crimes against wild birds have taken place.
As reported in The Courier on June 14, activists claimed a tree on the Invermark Estate was felled this year, crushing the protected nest of white-tailed eagles inside.
The estate north of Brechin has strenuously denied the claims and said the eagles are thriving there.
Police are still investigating the claims.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: “Tayside Division is making an inquiry into a tree being felled at an estate in Brechin in January.”