A new film, narrated by Chris Packham, describes in vivid detail the grim reality associated with grouse shooting.
Earlier this year, a male hen harrier was caught in an illegal spring trap set next to its nest site on a grouse moor. The bird was caught by its leg in the trap, yet despite emergency veterinary attention it didn’t survive.
However, it is clear the harrier suffered a very painful death. Another set trap was discovered in the nest along with abandoned eggs and no sign of the female bird.
OneKind Director Bob Elliot who was interviewed in the film said:
“There has been a long and well documented association between bird of prey persecution and grouse moor management in Scotland, but it isn’t just wildlife crime that blights our grouse moors. This latest film illustrates the point that in order to maximise the number of grouse available to be shot, any predatory animals or birds that threaten the grouse are viewed as pests.
“This means gamekeepers work rigorously to try to eradicate stoats, weasels, crows and foxes from the moors. These birds and animals can be legally trapped, shot and snared in Scotland’s countryside with very little in the way of public scrutiny, inspection, nor regulation by the authorities. Grouse moor managers may kill as many of these species as they wish, whenever they wish, with no requirement to report on the numbers of animals and birds being killed. All so that people can shoot red grouse for fun.
“It’s time we said enough is enough and ended the illegal persecution of birds of prey, but we must also reform and address the intensive management of Scotland’s grouse moors and end the indiscriminate killing of our wildlife.”
Notes to editor:
- OneKind is Scotland’s leading animal campaigns charity working to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals. OneKind works to expose cruelty and persecution through investigations and research covering Scotland’s wildlife, farm animals and pets. Find out more about our work at onekind.scot
- The full video can be viewed here.
It’s past time to stop the trapping and killing of animals and birds
It’s time to stop barbarism of animals. Especially when is for an industry that breeds to kill just for money.
Stop the murder of our wildlife, stop the evil enjoyment of the morons that murder for their greed and fun.
The only way to stop, or at least curb this type of crime, is to impose really massive fines, together with prison sentences. All very depressing.
Het wordt tijd dat de mensen respect moeten hebben voor alle dieren. Het is levende wezens zoals wij met gevoelens pijn en verdriet. Stop dierenmishandeling. Waar zijn de zware straffen. Dit moet allemaal stoppen. Mensen zijn de ergste wezens dier soort op deze planeet stop met andere onschuldige wezentjes te mishandelen en hun leven zomaar stop zetten stop stop stop
Quelle honte! n Belgique, beaucoup de gens pensent que les animaux sont mieux protégés au Royaume-Uni que sur le continent, mais, en regardant, entre autres, ce film, j’en doute. Quelle déception!
Scotland is one great killing field – that’s its dark hidden countryside. All we hear from government are fine words, that this and that will be done to eradicate the mass killing that goes on, on land (and sea), but all we get is tinkering. What the heck would Scotland’s countryside be like without the superb independent animal welfare and environment organisations struggling to keep pace with the constant murder of land and wildlife in our midst? For a start, grouse moors should be confiscated from the useless articles that, at will, misuse and abuse them. When will the Scottish government take some co-ordinated action? This holocaust just keeps on and on year after year. We have waited too long for a positive decisive governmental answer in deed, not words. Scotland is dragging its feet, and there will be no Wellbeing Economy so long as laziness and or fear is in the way. Lurking beneath the wonderful landscape is a Blood-soaked Scotland, is it not?