Report from Reuel Chisholm
Animal lovers up in arms over plan to restart hedgehog cull
By Murdo Maclean in the Courier, 12 th December 2003
Animal activists have reacted in horror to plans by Scottish Natural
Heritage to restart and step up its controversial hedgehog cull in
Uist.
According to an internal SNH report, which will be debated by its
executive board on Tuesday, an extended three-year cull is necessary
to speed up the eradication of the animals.
It could even lead to a longer and more intensive programme to
annihilate the creatures.
The move by SHN has increased tensions with animal groups and
threatens a relocation trial for the hedgehogs.
The government agency caused international anger earlier this year by
slaughtering the prickly creatures which destroy rare wading birds by
eating their eggs.
Some 25% of the UK's population of dunlin and ringed plover can be
found in parts of the three main islands which make up Uist. It is
claimed that their numbers have fallen by around 60% in places due to
hedgehog attacks.
Various animal charities set up Uist Hedgehog Rescue (UHR) which paid
a £5 bounty for live animals to be moved to safe homes on the
mainland.
Tensions ran high when SNH refused to back down and utilised dogs to
hunt down the hedgehogs.
In the event, SNH concentrated on North Uist killing 66 of the
animals - an estimated 70% of hedgehogs on that island - while UHR is
said to have saved around 160 hedgehogs.
At the time UHR was mocked for recovering only a single solitary
animal actually under a death warrant from the designated cull area.
But now the cull area would be extended across Benbecula and South
Uist.
A spokesman for SNH said: "SNH staff are advising the board that the
threat to Uist's internationally important birdlife requires action
immediately - and the culling effort should continue."
Les Ward, of Advocates for Animals part of UHR said: "This is totally
disappointing, unacceptable and beyond logic. It is a complete waste
of taxpayers money."
It also throws doubt on an independent scientific study proposed by
the People's Trust for Endanger Species (PTES). The £160,000 cost
would be met by PTES.
The study would research the survival chances of live hedgehogs
relocated to mainland villages.
Mr Ward said: "That study is now in serious jeopardy. SHN is being
totally pig-headed."
He asked: "Why go ahead killing again when it is shown that hedgehogs
can be relocated."
He claimed that all but one of the hedgehogs moved to new homes by
UHR were still alive and healthy.
© The Courier, 12 th December 2003
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