Report from Chris Smith
Green light for hedgehog cull
From BBC Scotland News, 17 th December 2003
Plans to cull an estimated 5,000 hedgehogs in the Outer Hebrides
have been approved by a government body.
The board of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) sanctioned the slaughter
in an effort to help preserve rare birds on the Uist isles.
Campaigners accused the organisation of "flying in the face of animal
welfare advice and public opinion".
But the "tough decision" was
defended by SNH chairman Dr
John Markland.
The organisation's scientific
advisory committee had ruled out
the relocation of the creatures to
the mainland on the grounds that
almost half had died as a result of
previous attempts.
However, it said it was willing to
advise any animal welfare groups
which wanted to fund a full scientific
study of such a move.
More than 1,200 letters of objection
were sent to SNH after it first raised
the possibility of the cull.
A handful of hedgehogs were first
introduced to the Uists in 1974 to
help control slugs and snails in
islanders' gardens.
Their numbers boomed but so did the threat to important populations
of waders including dunlin, lapwing, redshank and snipe.
Preying on eggs
Recent surveys have shown that the numbers of some species of
wading birds had dropped by nearly 60% in the last five years.
SNH said that the hedgehogs were jeopardising the populations of
some birds by preying on their eggs.
Speaking after Tuesday's meeting, Dr Markland said: "This was a tough
decision.
"On the face of it, culling seems cruel and moving animals to new
homes on the mainland seems more humane.
"The issues are far more intricate
than that though."
He confirmed that SNH would offer
advice on any proposed trials to
relocate hedgehogs.
But he added: "It remains for those
developing such ideas to ensure that
the proposals do not involve any
cruelty to hedgehogs, and are within
the law.
"I am convinced that today's decision was right for the birds, right in
terms of humane management of the Uist hedgehogs and right for the
welfare of mainland hedgehogs."
The cull is due to begin next April as the animals emerge from
hibernation.
Mass slaughter
Ross Minet of Advocates for Animals acknowledged that something
had to be done, but argued that the hedgehogs should be humanely
transferred to the mainland.
He said: "We are not entirely surprised that SNH have opted for the
mass slaughter.
"We are planning to meet up with other interested organisations and
individuals to list our options to get these perfectly healthy animals out
before SNH can kill them.
"They are flying in the face of animal welfare advice and public opinion."
© BBC Scotland News, 17 th December 2003
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