Politics on hold as 'illegal killing' of Ross-shire raptors roundly condemned
COUNCILLORS from across the political divide have united to condemn the killing of raptors in Ross-shire and renewed calls for anyone with information to inform the police.
The high profile Highland Council show of solidarity over the issue follows a public outcry over the apparent slaughter of 22 raptors - 16 red kites and eight buzzards at the latest count - within a two-square-mile area around Conon Bridge.
A motion presented by senior representatives of the SNP, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent groups was agreed at the full Highland Council meeting in Inverness on Thursday.
The motion, in full, read: “The Highland Council condemns the recent illegal killing of red kites and buzzards on the Black Isle both as wrong in itself and as an act with potential to reduce the economic benefits that wildlife tourism brings to the Highlands.
"The Council urges anyone with relevant information to contact Police Scotland; welcomes the actions of Scottish Land & Estates and of NFU Scotland in supporting attempts to identify the culprit(s); and commits itself to continuing to work with community planning partners, through the Highland Environment Forum, to reinvigorate the fight against all wildlife crime in the Highlands."
The move was warmly welcomed by RSPB Scotland which has helped the successful reintroduction of red kites to the area to take flight.
RSPB spokesman Alan Tissiman said: “The deaths of so many birds – at the last count sixteen red kites and six buzzards – has triggered an enormous response from the people of the Highlands.
"It is very encouraging that their elected representatives on the Council are also speaking up on behalf of our wildlife."
As reported inside this week's Ross-shire Journal, the issue has also been raised at Holyrood during a debate on wildlife crime.
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