As many of you already know, last week the scientific justification for Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) Strathbraan raven cull licence was ripped to shreds by SNH’s own Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) – see here.
The SAC’s utterly damning report included statements such as “completely inadequate“, “seriously flawed” and “will fail to provide any meaningful scientific evidence“.
In response to the SAC’s report, the Strathbraan Community Collaboration for Waders (otherwise known as local grouse moor gamekeepers) has ‘voluntarily suspended’ the licence, presumably until it expires on 31 Dec 2018 although this detail remains uncertain, and SNH has committed to reviewing the scientific study design prior to any further licences being granted beyond 2018.
A report published by SNH in response to the SAC’s damning review outlines some of the measures SNH intends to put in place before any further licences are granted. Read it here:
SNH response to Scientific Advisory Committee review of Strathbraan raven cull
The suspension of the raven cull licence (albeit only voluntary and temporary) is a significant victory for all of us who supported the Scottish Raptor Study Group’s crowdfunder to take legal action against SNH in the form of a judicial review, although it comes too late for the 39 ravens already killed during this unscientific and unjustified cull. (We’re told that 39 have been killed but of course there’s no way of verifying this).
However, the voluntary and temporary suspension of the licence, whilst welcome news, does not necessarily indicate the end of the judicial review, as serious concerns still remain.
Tomorrow (Weds 8th August) the Scottish Raptor Study Group will meet with its legal team to discuss how to proceed. There are various options on the table and each one requires careful consideration and expert advice from the lawyers.
An update on this will come in due course.
In the meantime, let’s enjoy the fact that no more ravens will be (legally) killed in Strathbraan this year under a licence that should never have been issued in the first place, had SNH been competent.
To read all our previous blogs on the raven cull fiasco, please see here (and scroll to foot of page).
Raptor Persecution UK 
After reading the SNH response, I feel soiled. I also noticed at the end, where it responds to the recommendation that RSGs should be consulted, they avoid doing so. So it’s the usual suspects round the table!
The SAC told them that they need to come up with an argument that says Ravens should be the focus of the experiment. they have also declined to take this on board.
They are scientifically bankrupt.
I also notice that they continue with the farce that SCCW are some sort of community conservation group.
Incidentaly, don’t know if you heard the recent BBC Out of Doors where they interviewed the new(ish) CEO of SNH, where she said the aim of the organisation was environmentally sustainable economic development. Even Mark and Euan expressed surprise that this seemed to have been a change from protecting the environment.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bc3h7t
That’s a very telling phrase which I take to mean that SNH are now more about protecting landowners interests than protecting the environment.
Presenters comments at 1:07
I gave a friend a donation to give to you for Ravens. She contacted me yesterday to say she cannot find the giving or donation part. I had a look & neither can I. Help please.
Hi Nadia,
The crowdfunder to support the legal challenge has now closed (there was a time limit and the target was met/exceeded):
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice4ravens/
There isn’t currently another fundraiser in place as the ££ that has already been raised is deemed sufficient, for now.
Thanks
It seems that SNH has avoided any admission of the fact that they authorised a “seriously flawed” study, never mind offering any sort of apology for a “seriously flawed” decision making process, and the usual panacea that lessons will be learned, etc.