Leading animal welfare campaigns charity, OneKind, today (1st March 2021) welcomes the introduction of legal protection for mountain hares.
As of today, it will be illegal to intentionally kill, injure, or take mountain hares at any time unless a licence is obtained. This will effectively put an end to the mass scale mountain hare killings which previously took place across Scottish grouse moors by gamekeepers. An estimated 26,000 mountain hares were killed in Scotland each year before this protection was introduced.
OneKind Director, Bob Elliot, said:
“We are delighted that the day has come when mountain hares have become a protected species and where the mass scale killings of this beautiful animal is put to an end. We have campaigned for four years for an end to these culls and so today really does feel like a huge triumph. A triumph not just for ourselves, but also for our passionate supporters and all those who campaigned tirelessly for mountain hares.
“There has been a great deal of support for making mountain hares a protected species and efforts from animal welfare organisations, such as OneKind, conservation organisations and passionate individuals made this happen. In particular, Alison Johnstone MSP deserves special recognition for her commitment to her role as the Scottish Parliament’s hare champions. We are very grateful that she lodged the amendment that is responsible for mountain hares’ new status as a protected species.”
On the mountain hare licensing scheme, Bob Elliot added:
“The Scottish Government has not yet published its mountain hare licensing scheme, which we understand is due to come into force sometime in July. August 1st 2021 would have been the day which previously marked the open season for killing mountain hares. In December OneKind attended an initial stakeholder meeting hosted by Scotland’s nature agency, NatureScot, to advise on the animal welfare aspects of mountain hare licensing and will continue to push for a robust licensing scheme that priorities hare welfare.
“It is our understanding that until the new licensing scheme comes into effect in July, mountain hares may only be killed if applicants are approved a closed season license in order to protect damage to crops, vegetables, fruit or growing timber.”
Notes to Editor
- OneKind is a Scottish animal welfare charity working to end cruelty to Scotland’s animals.
It is a huge success for OneKind and its members and a great result for the mountain hares, that have been ruthlessly killed by landlords and ‘gamekeepers’ in the past.
However, the law and protection order is only good if it is properly enforced with heavy penalties for those who contravene the law and those who are involved in breaking the law to be arrested, charged and found guilty of the offence.
Unfortunately, we are dealing with a certain sector of society, who believe they are exempt from prosecution, or have friends in the judiciary to get them off the hook, or even serving judges who know that their colleagues will dismiss the charges against them.
Until we can rid the judiciary of the corrupt elements, we will continue to see mountain hares being killed in their thousands.
Excellent. Really helpful. Thanks a lot……