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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

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Campaigners rally to protect mountain hares

This news post is over 7 years old
 

Activists will gather outside Holyrood on Thursday to call for an end to culling and hunting the species

Animal rights campaigners will gather outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday to call for an end to the culling and hunting of mountain hares.

The mass lobby has been organised by animal charity OneKind in support of greater protections for the species which it says is subject to “unacceptable” levels of persecution.

According to the charity, tens of thousands of the creatures are killed each year despite the species having conservation status in Scotland.

OneKind said culls and hunts are not licensed in Scotland, so it is impossible to know exactly how many hares are killed each year.

The commercial interests of large sporting estates must not be allowed to trample over the conservation of highly valued wildlife

However, the charity estimates 25,000 were killed in 2006/7, thought to be between 5-14% of the total population. As well having a potentially significant impact on their population, serious welfare concerns arise over the scale and nature of the killing.

OneKind director Harry Huyton said: "The mountain hare is an iconic species in Scotland and the scale of persecution these creatures are subjected to is needless and completely inexcusable.

"OneKind is calling on the Scottish Government to provide more stringent protection for hares as an urgent priority, starting with a complete ban on hunting and culling in national parks.

"We hope politicians from all parties will attend the mass lobby on Thursday to hear the arguments in favour of greater protection of the hare and listen to their constituents’ views on this important animal welfare issue."

Scottish Greens MSP Alison Johnstone, species champion for the mountain hare, will speak at the rally.

She said: “The reports we've heard of mass culls of mountain hares, and the photos we’ve seen are deeply disturbing. The commercial interests of large sporting estates must not be allowed to trample over the conservation of highly valued wildlife.

"I hope Thursday's rally outside Parliament helps put pressure on the Scottish Government to introduce greater protection for mountain hares, starting with a ban on culls in national parks.

“To date the government's agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, has been ineffective in challenging applications for culls. The evidence is clear that culling hares does nothing to help the environment; it's simply about an industry trying to maximise profits."

 

Comments

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Kim Creasey
over 7 years ago
Please stop killing the hares for goodness sake
0 0
Real Freedom
over 7 years ago
Please stop killing the cows which make your steaks for goodness sake
0 0
Christine harger
over 7 years ago
Please stop!!!
0 0
Carole Coote
over 7 years ago
What on earth are you doing allowing the culling of hares. Does wildlife have to be sacrificed in the self interest of hunters and other self interest groups. Shame on you.
0 0
Margaret Bradshaw
over 7 years ago
Appalling practice as is fox hunting and badger culling
0 0
Douglas Fox
over 7 years ago
This cull is both cruel and unnecessary. Hares are becoming rare and this slaughter is wrong.
0 0
Irene Francis
over 7 years ago
What have hares done to suffer this persecution? I really would like to know. Answers please.
0 0
Shirley de Silva
over 7 years ago
Respect,nurture and live in harmony with all fellow creatures,overcome the primitive desire to kill and evolve into a compassionate species. Make the right choice.
0 0
Val Knowles
over 7 years ago
Enough is enough. If this carries on, there will be no wildlife left.
0 0
Michelle Canciani
over 7 years ago
Barbaric. Stop it now!
0 0
Debbie Hollis
over 7 years ago
Stop the cull!!!!
0 0
Chris Adam Smith
over 7 years ago
This cull must cease.
0 0
Sam Medlicott
over 7 years ago
No unessciary killing
0 0
Mike Wright
over 7 years ago
Please stop this.
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ELIZABETH THOMAS
over 7 years ago
Leave our wildlife alone.
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Fiona Cowie
over 7 years ago
Totally unnecessary. Leave the hares alone.
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Alan Stimson
over 7 years ago
I assumed that clicking on this would take me to a petition page.
0 0
S Phillips
over 7 years ago
STOP THE KILLING FIELDS ... STOP ALL ANIMAL CRUELTY
0 0
L.Murphy
over 7 years ago
This is absolutely BARBARIC and must stop!! What is wrong with humans who get so much pleasure in KILLING.
0 0
Audrey
over 7 years ago
Mountain hares are an absolute delight and bring joy to any child lucky enough to see one in the outdoors. To slaughter them is an international crime against civilization. OneKind - what other concrete action (through the courts, through the International Wildlife Commission etc) can be taken? Everyone who cares about the planet, all worldwide environmental and wildlife charities, need to work together as one NOW to ensure our policitians are listening.
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