Scotland’s public body for natural heritage, Scottish Natural Heritage, has published a list of the worryingly broad range of species and shockingly high number of 130,000 wild animals it has licensed to be killed within the last five years.
Species Licensed to be Killed
The official figures, released on account of a FOI request by The Ferret, cover 63 species, including some of Scotland’s rarest species and many examples of its iconic wildlife. Birds accounted for 51 of the species licensed to be killed, with far more geese licensed to be killed than any other animal, but other animals included moths, fish and lizards. We were particularly concerned to see that 30 licences had been granted to kill beavers in the three months since they gained legal protection: the welfare issues have been well documented and everyone who campaigned for the protection of these harmless creatures will be appalled.
Worrying Lack of Exact Figures
Scottish Natural Heritage only refused 36 applications for licences to kill species between 2014-2019 and of the licences granted, 497 did not specify numbers, rather allowing for the species of animal to be killed ‘as required’. Many of the licenses that were returned upon expiration did also not confirm how many animals were killed, as required by Scottish Natural Heritage. Thus, we can’t know the exact figure of the animals killed under licence, which is, of course, very concerning. These figures also exclude the wildlife permitted to be killed outwith Scottish Natural Heritage’s general licensing system: deer, seals, ducks and hares to name a few.
The Very Last Resort
Scottish Natural Heritage confirmed that it grants licences on the grounds of economic interest, health & safety, serious damage to forestry, and the environment. OneKind maintains it is vital that the killing of sentient wild animals should only ever be the very last resort, after all non-lethal interventions have been exhausted and well documented.
Oh NO!! Not more killing FFS!
Get a grip! this is not our world we merely share it, no healthy animal should ever be killed.
When will this stop?? I hate people!! We’re the ones who should be culled!! We’re the scourge of this planet!!
Agreed. The sooner Homo egotisticus is extinct the better.
The lack of strict control, accountability or adequate justifications is a cause for real concern. For too long these organisations have gone about their business with no proper controls or justifications recorded about their activities.
It is not acceptable to have such a casual approach to the killing of our wildlife, nor is it acceptable to kill wildlife in order to preserve businesses that deal in killing for pleasure.
The full facts and up to date records of species killed, numbers and justifications need to be available to all.
Really sad to hear about these statistics. So many birds and also Why beavers? They actually provide an environmental service, which Scottish Natural Heritage should find out about.
SNH need to properly account for why they are so eager to have all these creatures slaughtered.
I am totally sick of this pathetic human mentality of just killing, killing, killing and if they can’t kill lets be cruel and dish out abuse and cruelty of some kind.
When is this human sickness gonna stop and when are the authorities gonna step up and put a stop to this mindless cruelty.
Do you really want to sit your children or grandchildren on your knee and say that you sat by and did nothing while this sad extermination of living creatures just continues !!
Time to stop, think, care !
I would like to know who is in Charge of this appalling killing bloodlust.. Why , and who voted these murdering people,s decisions. I dont understand why the wildlife can’t be left in peace..
Don’t healthy wild animals have a right to live??? Killing animals is sickening in the end. If you are interested in extra numorous animals, look for men and you won’t be disappointed.
Shocking and irresponsible. Please stop killing the wonderful array of wildlife we still have left. They need man’s protection now, not to be their, ‘sport’.
this is very cruel, these animals didn’t ask to be brought into this world. they deserve to live like any human being.
What is wrong with some people ? We are so cruel and have truly lost our way ….. no way of stopping our blood lustre apparently and SNH seem un fit too issue license s ?