Other quaint country habits
Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 10:56 pm
Much time, money and effort is spent in trying to reintroduce raptor species to this country, birds of prey which were hunted out because they spoiled the sport of blasting grouse and pheasants with shotguns. The programme has been fairly successful---ospreys are again part of the British habitat, and we are nurturing birds in order to help places like Spain reintroduce their birds of prey.
However, birds from extremely rare species are often found shot dead, or poisoned (really sick, this; poisoned meat left that any animal can pick up) because of the threat posed to country estates and particularly hunting beats. Who ends up in court? Usually the gamekeeper, who is almost certainly under orders to sort out the problem and is expected to show full loyalty to his employer and not spill the beans in court.
No way am I tarring everyone with the same brush, but there are definitely some landowners who seem to care more for their economic well-being than any sense of being guardians of the countryside. Kestrels, red kites, golden eagles etc kill---it's what nature intended them to do (foxes too, for that matter). Anyone allowing rare species to be killed on their property and then trying to take the moral high ground on country matters is a lying piece of scum.
Just an opinion, like.
However, birds from extremely rare species are often found shot dead, or poisoned (really sick, this; poisoned meat left that any animal can pick up) because of the threat posed to country estates and particularly hunting beats. Who ends up in court? Usually the gamekeeper, who is almost certainly under orders to sort out the problem and is expected to show full loyalty to his employer and not spill the beans in court.
No way am I tarring everyone with the same brush, but there are definitely some landowners who seem to care more for their economic well-being than any sense of being guardians of the countryside. Kestrels, red kites, golden eagles etc kill---it's what nature intended them to do (foxes too, for that matter). Anyone allowing rare species to be killed on their property and then trying to take the moral high ground on country matters is a lying piece of scum.
Just an opinion, like.