Scottish Raptor Study Group

News November 2014

Leaked plan to get rid of pine martens 'deeply flawed'
30th November 2014
A leaked plan by the game-shooting lobby to remove pine martens from woodlands around Aviemore in the Highlands has sparked fierce opposition from wildlife groups. Details here and here.

Police 'declare war' on wildlife crime in the Borders
22nd November 2014
PC Jamie Hood, the newly-appopinted police wildlife crime liaison officer for the Lothians & Borders, is calling on members of the public to report suspected wildlife crimes to help the police tackle this problem. Further information here.

Job opportunity: Golden Eagle Project Officer, Great Glen, Scotland
22nd November 2014
Here's a fantastic job opportunity for an experienced raptor fieldworker. A three year position and a decent salary (£35k). These opportunities don't come along very often! Closing date 28th November 2014. Full details: http://jobs.newscientist.com/en-gb/job/1401537245/golden-eagle-project-officer-great-glen-scotland 

New Environment Minister in post
21st November 2014
The Scottish Raptor Study Group is sorry to see that Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP has been 're-shuffled' in the new SNP Cabinet and has been moved to another post. We've worked closely with Paul through the Partnership for Wildlife Crime (PAW Scotland) and we thank him for his efforts in addressing wildlife crime, and particularly with the on-going issue of raptor persecution. We wish him well in his new position. The new Environment Minister is Aileen McLeod MSP and we look forward to a fruitful and productive relationship.

Resolution to tackle raptor persecution passed at SNP annual conference
17th November 2014
A resolution to tackle the issue of raptor persecution was 'passed with acclaim' (no dissenters) during the recent Scottish National Party's annual conference in Perthshire. Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse spoke passionately about the topic and warned of the introduction of further punitive measures if these crimes don't stop. Details here.

Rural Affairs, Climate Change & Environment Committee hears evidence on wildlife crime
13th November 2014
The Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs, Climate Change & Environment (RACCE) Committee has been hearing evidence from Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse on the Government's second annual report on willdife crime (2013). Transcripts of these hearings can be read here (Police Scotland & COPFS) and here (Environment Minister).

MSP calls for review of Police Scotland investigation into the mass poisoning of 22 raptors in Ross-shire earlier this year
11th November 2014
Dave Thompson MSP has called on the Justice Secretary to undertake a review of the police investigation into the illegal posioning of 22 raptors in Ross-shire earlier this year. Further details here.

SRSG to contribute to Scottish Government's Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Committee
7th November 2014
The Scottish Raptor Study Group will be submitting a response to the Government's Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Commitee. This Committee was established earlier this year, at the behest of Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse, to examine and report on how wildlife crime in Scotland is dealt with by the criminal courts, with particular reference to the range of penalties available and whether these are sufficient for the purposes of deterrence. Details of the work of this Committee here.

Archive:

2014: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October,
2013: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December,
2012: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.