North Korean despot Kim Jong-il may be dead but the art of propaganda is alive and kicking here in the UK. A fine example of this is displayed in the latest [January 2012] edition of Modern Gamekeeping, the monthly rag for UK gamekeepers, where there are more calls for the introduction of licences to cull raptors.
It begins in the editorial at the front. Peter Carr dedicates a whole page to the issue of raptor persecution, starting off with condemnation of illegal raptor poisoning [good], but quickly moving on to ‘justify’ the need for legal raptor culling [not so good]. Part of this ‘justification’ includes the following statement:
“Buzzards, sparrowhawks, goshawks, hen harriers, and tawny owls are the raptor species that cause us the most problems, though the little owl’s destructive power should not be discounted. All are doing well in most areas of the UK…“
Oh dear. But when did facts ever get in the way of 100 year-old anti-raptor propaganda? And here is evidence, should any more be needed, that gamekeepers will not stop at licensed buzzard killing. Sparrowhawks, goshawks, tawny owls and little owls are all apparent targets, and hen harriers too, if they can find any left to kill.
Carr goes on to rally the troops, calling for more strenuous lobbying and “the need for a sensible balance in our countryside“. Presumably that ‘sensible balance’ includes the continued annual release of 40+ million non-native gamebirds into our countryside and the (mis)management of our uplands to produce artificially-high densities of red grouse, all to the detriment of any native predators that share the habitat?
His editorial ends with this: “Raptor control licences will come, but we must hasten the process with valid argument and an impeccable record of keeping our own house in order“. If these two premises are the ones that will dictate whether raptor culling licences are issued, then conservationists need not fear that they’ll be issued any time soon.
The propaganda continues later in the rag….more on this in the next post…
Raptor Persecution UK 
If it wasn’t for the unnaturally high numbers of so-called game birds, Red Grouse, Pheasants, Red-legged Partridge etc, (the last two of which are not indiginous to the UK anyway), being pampered by indicriminate manipulation of the natural environment in which they are being artificially kept, then the Raptors would pose no threat to the Sporting Estates and their gamekeepers whatever. I propose therefore a serious reduction (CULL) to at least half of the artificially high numbers of game birds as soon as possible, sporting estates who do not follow this objective and continue to persecute Raptors should have their licences revoked for all time and their estates turned over for wildlife management !!!
How can keepers introduce so many exotic species, manipulate the habitat so much, kill so much of the biodiversity and not be classed as farmers?
An unwarented tax deal for the boys!