25th July 2016
STATEMENT by Moorland Association director, Amanda Anderson:
“We are disappointed by RSPB’s decision to pull out of Defra’s Hen Harrier Action Plan. We remain committed to seeing more harrier breeding on more grouse moors and will continue to work with partners.
“The new upland brood management and lowland reintroduction elements of that plan are still being scoped. Until they are implemented we cannot judge how successful they are in achieving that goal.
“We wish to reiterate our total abhorrence of any act of wildlife crime and support of prosecutions.
“That said, the incidents to what RSPB refer did not directly involve birds of prey and certainly not hen harriers. The keeper rightly lost his job following an illegal pole trap incident because traps are already licensed and regulated by wildlife and animal welfare law. Using decoying is a legal method of corvid control.
“The onus is on every estate to ensure every employee is working within the existing law. Nothing less will do.”
