* 500+ chicks slaughtered
* 100,000+ eggs removed from nests * 250,000+ nests sanctioned for destruction * Mind boggling statistics - is NatureScot completely out of control? Who would have thought that the agency set up to "improve the natural environment in Scotland" would be busy sanctioning the mass destruction of nests and eggs of threatened species and the slaughter of baby chicks? But yes, NatureScot's lethal control policy includes culling the chicks of 'protected' birds and wholesale destruction of species officially recognised as being of high conservation concern. Figures from a period spanning five years show that NatureScot was responsible for the purposeful and systematic persecution and extermination of no less than five different species of protected gulls, in huge numbers. The appalling statistics* reveal that between 2017 and 2021:- 129,425 eggs were removed from nests of five species of red and amber listed gulls. 530 chicks were culled. 1,732 adult birds were culled. 52,569 nests were destroyed. (In addition to these figures, as I reported recently, new data from last year alone reveals that NatureScot also approved the killing of a further 130 gull chicks and 122 adult gulls during 2022, and another 224,750 nests were sanctioned to be destroyed by Scotland's 'nature agency') The scale of the destruction is horrifying. The birds targeted by the agency are Herring gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Greater Black Backed Gull, Common Gull and Black-Headed Gull. NatureScot systematically pursuing and destroying red-listed Herring Gulls The species most persecuted by NatureScot, the Herring gull, has seen a massive population crash in recent years with just 130,000 pairs now estimated to be breeding across the whole of the UK. It is a red-listed species, meaning that it is of the highest conservation concern. It would appear from the data that NatureScot might be significantly contributing to its decline. The agency permitted the destruction of 103,020 Herring gull nests in one single year, the figures suggesting that NatureScot may be pursuing the birds even if they attempt to nest multiple times. Between 2017 and 2021, Scotland's nature agency destroyed more than 70,000 eggs of this red-listed species, in addition to 200+ chicks and 1300+ adult birds. All this over just a few breeding seasons. NatureScot say that their goal is to 'inspire everyone to care more about our natural environment'. But these figures are mind boggling and I fear they indicate that NatureScot is completely out of control. Pressure from residents and councils NatureScot faces pressure from residents and local councils in some areas of the country, who complain about gulls being 'pests', and the agency appears to have given in to calls for the iconic birds to be removed - rather than educating people that these species are part of the very fabric of the natural world. If we don't learn to co-exist with these magnificent birds, then we could lose them forever - and that would be a tragedy, as well as a stain on Scotland. Shameful The Scottish people should be outraged. We all should. Such blatant hypocrisy from a self proclaimed conservation agency, acting on behalf of a government, is shameful. I am appalled at NatureScot's decision, especially given the threat the gulls already face from avian flu and environmental degradation. The worst nature agency in the UK...? NatureScot stands out as being possibly the worst nature agency in the UK for permitting the culling of wild birds. I believe it is in the public interest to highlight the dubious actions of government agencies when they directly affect wildlife and the natural environment so many of us are striving to protect. Share the data I'm sharing this data because it is vitally important for the public to be aware of what is going on. I'll be asking NatureScot to publish their licensing statistics in the same way that Natural England now does (thanks to our campaign), so that it is available for public scrutiny and discussion going forward. Scotland's 'nature agency' clearly needs a few lessons in compassion for wildlife and empathy with nature. I'd welcome NatureScot's response to these figures and respectfully request that they either explain their highly questionable decision making or immediately halt their current policy of destroying gulls. ------------------------- *These are the officially recorded figures. Assuming the Scottish system is like the English system, then it will rely on the honesty and integrity of licence holders to report their actions accurately. The licensing systems as they stand are impossible to monitor and are open to serious abuse.
32 Comments
Dareleen Jones
10/3/2023 05:34:49 pm
Outrageous.
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Wendy Raeburn
10/3/2023 07:38:20 pm
This is horrifying!!! How can they be allowed to do this!? I am heart broken reading this information. Oh my goodness this has to be stopped and we need the Laws in Britain to protect these Animals. My goad sake there is NO WILDLIFE LEFT!!!
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Jenny Stacey
11/3/2023 12:48:17 pm
This is unbelievable and totally disgusting. How can any organisation claiming to conserve nature be allowed to do this?
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Stephen Kay
11/3/2023 01:45:15 pm
I’m raging! Dirty bastards. Totally decimating our wildlife again. There will be fuck all wildlife or nature left in this shitty country. Barren and desolate shitland.
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Simon George Spratt
10/3/2023 05:39:27 pm
Absolutely SHAMEFUL!! What do the Sweaty Socks think they’re doing?!! Personally, I don’t think they really know what’s going on!! I very much doubt that they would do it if they did!!
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Ian
10/3/2023 07:38:25 pm
Simon, the Scottish people are largely unaware of what the SNP 'glorified councilors' are doing, so racicst abuse from you is not helping. What they need is information and help from the more informed south of the border. I'm sure if the Scottish people were aware of what these little despots are doing they would unite to put a stop to it.
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Thomas Anderson
10/3/2023 11:11:36 pm
What a disgusting thing to write. Racist comments just show your ignorance and lack of vocabulary.
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Gina
10/3/2023 05:45:31 pm
Absolutely disgusting and a complete disregard for nature. Very sad indeed.
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10/3/2023 05:46:20 pm
Here We are 2023 Overun with So called Asylum seekers ,Yet the Powers To Be are Killing Our Native Birds In Thousands All For The Glory Of ???? Are We Witnessing The Opening Up our The Doors To the Giant Mental Hospital Called The BRITISH ISLES ? The Inmates are Certainly Running Amok .I ask Always And Again When Did You see a Bullfinch ? Because if the Idiots carry on Culling You Never Will !!!!
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Richard Greenwood
10/3/2023 08:49:00 pm
In my garden (West Pennines close to built up area), ignoring feral pigeons, our most common wild birds are the three "B"s
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Edwina Jayne Rudge
10/3/2023 05:50:15 pm
I am absolutely appalled by the information presented. The Scottish people should be ashamed that this mass destruction of seabirds is taking place on their behalf.
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Carol Henderson
10/3/2023 05:51:57 pm
Having being born and living all my life in Scotland, I am horrified at the destruction of forests( including areas home to wild cats !) and green land being overbuilt on ,all for the sake of windfarms and new houses! With an SNP government who seem to have no regard for protecting our wonderful wildlife , Scotland is NOT the beautiful country it once was! Please excuse my rant, but I am sick and tired of a government who do not care about wildlife!
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Giulia Argyll Nicholson
10/3/2023 06:03:28 pm
It's absolutely outrageous, giving in to people moaning about 'pests' they should go somewhere else if they don't like the birds after all the birds were here long before people. It makes me so angry they should be educating the population.
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Lyn Davies
10/3/2023 06:08:44 pm
What is wrong with these idiots.If they had a brain they would be even more dangerous.The uk is the most wildlife depleted country in the world and we wonder why.😡😡😡 Absolutely disgusting.
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JILL HODGSON
10/3/2023 06:13:35 pm
How can they justify this culling it is so sad and devestating for the bird population
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Tam Anderson
10/3/2023 06:18:41 pm
I’m ashamed to hear this get it stopped NatureScot. If people didn’t start feeding the gulls in the first place they wouldn’t have got into the habit diving bombing and taking food out peoples hands. The other thing is when they dive bomb they are probably defending eggs or young in nests when they nest on peoples roofs. Come on Scotland be a little bit more tolerant toward our wildlife. 🏴
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Tiim Burke
11/3/2023 10:00:16 am
Very few gulls steal food from people. It isn't actually difficult to protect your food from a gull, staying in the shade is enough. More seriously this is disgusting. When I did a web search after Jas publicised this I found a Government paper (Scottish) on gulls. It was mainly Scottish Councils looking for excuses to control gulls (virtually wouldn't it help if anyone had ever caught Salmonella from gull droppings - which they haven't) and looking for examples of extermination from councils such as Gloucester and Sunderland. There seems to be a fairly unpleasant mindset in several City councils. I don't understand where Common Gulls (which as far as I know don't nest in towns) come into it; or all the BRITISH nests of Greater Black-backed Gulls.
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Lynne and Stewart Rose
10/3/2023 06:35:52 pm
Heartbreaking.
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Aisling
10/3/2023 06:39:33 pm
Disgraceful!
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Rupert King
10/3/2023 07:15:53 pm
Who can we write to at NatureShot er sorry NatureNot er sorry NatureScot to protest at this slaughter?
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Christine Mary Burden
11/3/2023 07:40:57 am
What kind of danger to human life do gulls present? The smaller gulls aren't even great chip pinchers. If herring gulls like chips, who taught them- human beings of course.
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terry
11/3/2023 08:39:08 am
Has nobody heard of bird flu? the devistation its causing accross all species is frightening. Most of the gulls mentioned are not small in number by any means. Now we've raped the seas of all there food they come inland to feed and spread bird flu to other species, IE piegons during harvest, if its just left there will be lettle of anything left. take the whole picture into account not just rant about the headline
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John Dyda
11/3/2023 08:58:21 am
Once again the problem emanates from the uncaring and climate change/biodiversity crisis deniers in Westminster. These government bodies are probably told that humans come first before nature. Evil bastards.
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Jo Miller
11/3/2023 10:16:54 am
Brought me tears last evening when I read this, then the anger, how on earth can this be allowed, what is the matter with these people, surely we can all live in harmony with our wildlife neighbours after all it’s us humans who have pushed nature out of it’s natural habitat.
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William Allan
11/3/2023 11:16:56 am
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. This useless incompetent SNP administration cannot get anything right, so their inability to protect our wildlife is no surprise. The UK is one of the worst places on the planet for lack of biodiversity, so NatureScot helps to make it worse. Please educate the Scottish people on why we need to keep our birds and not destroy them.
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Alex
11/3/2023 11:47:25 am
It's the same for all the government agencies like DEFRA, Natural England and Naturescot. They are animal haters. They are pro hunt. They are in place to ensure that their friends can continue to harm animals under the guise of animal protection. Government corruption is rife. It is disturbing and we are helpless to stop it. We can be sure that these agencies were set up to continue to harm animals. They were not set up to protect them. What is certain is that they are nefarious individuals who get away with murder.
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Anthony Robert Charles
11/3/2023 12:57:04 pm
The entire affair is an obscenity ! It sems that once a suggestion gets aired, mass autonomy takes over. Government departments don't talk to each other, consult or learn about possible solutions to the challenges. They seem to emulate lemmings & go straight over the edge (of reason), into pandemonium.
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11/3/2023 03:22:33 pm
No matter what the percentage of people who complain about these birds is, this ham fisted approach is sledge hammers to crack nuts and is just to placate misguided arrogant humans with no tolerance for nature. Also of course hoping to be seen to be 'doing something' so next election time they keep their jobs. Utterly shameful and unforgivable. What next, culling cats for pooing in next door's garden?
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Julia Lowe
11/3/2023 06:53:39 pm
it seems to me that the UK, whether Scotland likes or not are still part of it, is intent on destroying all wildlife. I don't understand why?? Coupled with that the BBC is muting one of Sir David Attenborough's new Wild Isles episodes as 'it will upset people'. so what people will it upset? It can still be accessed on iPlayer so probably not the general public. I despair
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DBarraclough
12/3/2023 07:55:40 am
It's easy on face value to despise these actions but I must say I've been unable to trace an authoritative report on why these draconian actions are necessary. Can we have one please.
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12/3/2023 06:27:28 pm
I have no vote in Scotland but Scottish people do. Having a vote is the only weapon an individual has, so use it. The voting public is the only thing Politicians consider when the elections come around, use your voice and your vote and hopefully the Politicians will get the message.Then again, perhaps I am whistling in the wind, does anyone know a Politician that doesn't swear black is white and vice versa? Public servants given so much power over all and sundry is begging for trouble, it is to be hoped that one day someone with a compassionate ear and a good dose of common sense will be making the decisions
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12/3/2023 11:45:02 pm
This should not carry on. These creatures and their offspring have a right to live and thrive just as much as we do. They are entitled to an existence without any kind of threat on their habitat from humankind.
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