What a great turn out in Inverness this afternoon for the public protest demonstration against illegal raptor persecution!
The protest was triggered following the recent mass poisoning of at least 19 raptors (14 red kites and 5 buzzards) in the Conon Bridge area of Ross-shire, all found during the last three weeks.
Well done to RSPB Scotland for organising the demo and allowing ordinary members of the public an opportunity to tell the Scottish Government that they’ve had enough and to demand they now take action. A big well done also to everyone who was able to attend. Special mention goes to the two people from Friends of Red Kites in Gateshead who made the long journey north to participate.
For those of you who weren’t able to be there, you can still show your support by contributing to the reward fund, which is currently at a whopping £26,800. Click HERE if you’d like to donate.
Press coverage of today’s event:
BBC News here
Courier here
Herald here
Other media coverage:
Chris Townsend Outdoors website here
WalkHighlands website here
Mark Avery’s blog here
Blog by Stuart Benn, RSPB Scotland Conservation Manager here
Previous blog posts on the Ross-shire Massacre here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Brilliant protest, excellent media work, thanks for regular blog!
There are thousands more appalled by this outrage …
I think the time has now come for an accountancy appraisal on the actual financial situation with regard to how a shooting estate is run, assuming that it is acting like any other company, with profit maximisation as the desired goal, and just how far the presence of predatory birds are having on the achievement of that aim. There would also be a cost effect on the harbouring of ticks on Mountain Hares, and the culling thereof of these wild animals. Also, in this investigation, there would be a statement as to how much is being awarded to such estates by the Scottish Natural Heritage and other Government originated funds. These would, of course, be treated as a subsidy.
There would also be an unbiased investigation into how much shooting estates contribute to the economy of Scotland, and if more suitable ways of using areas dominated by such activities could be found. There is a feeling that much of this information has been suppressed, as there may be “sports people” of such a blood sport, who may be employed in Government, or who may have influence to ensure that their interests are enshrined as unassailable. After all, from the Royals down, shooting is inculcated from an early age.
As one who is deeply concerned about the vice grip of this pseudo-industry and its financial affairs, and who has been and still is, active in finding ways to restore confidence through job creation in our young people, I feel that such a thorough and, in every corner penetration, scrutiny, has been long overdue.
Finally, we see so many stories in the press about the Police and other legal services, being told to turn a blind eye to various nefarious activities by politicians and others in prominence. I think the old sotlight needs to be strongly turned on that brigade. If sentencing is weak on serious crimes against the person and property, then how can conservationist/animal welfare organisations and their supporters, hope to see gamekeepers and estate owners go to prison. Instead, we have had no prosecutions; delays in bringing to trial of accused persons; derisory fines, in the face of outright fingers to the nose attitude, by the killers of our birds of prey and other creatures. They know they will get a cosy reception from the law, and they know their backers will stump up the fines and legal costs. A warning to all the conservation and animal welfare groups in Scotland – start cooperating to get a joint front against this domination of the Scottish countryside, and the abuse of our wildlife. A more humane and more productive way of using the Scottish countryside, could be made available to the public, who condemn this defiance by a few anachronistic characters, treating the landscape as a fiefdom for their sporting activities. Despite what I have said, there is an open door for those gamekeepers and estate owners, who wish to follow a policy of accepting birds of prey, and any losses as part of the cost of running their business activities. Scotland could become a model for other areas of the UK and Europe, with a strong punitive legal reaction to offenders.
Sensible as always..Mr Greer Hart…”the elephant in the room” as always though, is corruption, aka “turning a blind eye” that you mention. All it takes to destroy an investigation into persecution is..one phone call to the suspect from persons unknown, one conversation from a senior police officer to the investigating constable, one note to a Fiscal to suggest that a case will “fail”, one Sheriff who thinks poisoning is a “technicality”….Even I, with 30 years plus of experience close up of the justice system, am astonished at how little progress has been made and how little respect and reaction to the visible public outrage there has been, from our “authorities”.
I would like to second both the above statements. I had hoped that the situation might have improved a little in the 28 years I have lived in the Highlands but sadly that seems to be on a par with believing in fairies. Those involved in enforcing the law ought to be named and shamed too, as I think most are in the wrong job. I am pretty sure having a gamekeeper as a JP doesnt help either!
JP thing not so much of a worry now Caroline, as no one gets search warrants that way anymore [Human Rights Act]…on a related topic, I have had Fiscals tell me they dont like upsetting keepers, as they are often special constables…and useful in a rural emergency. Thats the kind of rural web we are up against when trying to get neutrality into the justice system. Another hangover from the 19th century.