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News13 March 2006 SNH hedgehog killers to return to UistsLast minute appeal from Queen’s Brian MayUist Hedgehog Rescue (UHR) continues to oppose Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) slaughter of Uist hedgehogs, as the ’conservation’ quango plans to resume killing these wild animals this week. UHR, supported by Queen’s Brian May, are hoping that SNH will have a last-minute re-think on its killing policy at a meeting of its Main Board in Perth on Tuesday 14 March, following the new findings of a study by scientists at Bristol University that showed that hedgehogs can be translocated successfully. This will be the fourth year that SNH has killed healthy hedgehogs on the Uists, with the death toll now at 535. SNH is working in partnership with the Scottish Executive and RSPB Scotland as the Uist Wader Project. Over the last three years UHR has rescued 610 hedgehogs, which have been health checked, monitored and carefully released into appropriate sites on the mainland. Unless SNH’s planned slaughter is called off, UHR intends to return to the Uists to rescue more animals during April and May. The latest research, conducted by scientists at Bristol University, and coordinated by Professor Stephen Harris, shows that hedgehogs can be translocated successfully after rehabilitation and that their release, onto mainland Britain, has no adverse effect on local hedgehog populations. This supports the findings of a wealth of previous studies conducted by hedgehog experts from around the world. A spokesperson for Uist Hedgehog Rescue says: "It is disappointing that SNH has not yet decided to relocate instead of kill the Uist hedgehogs, in light of the increasing mountain of scientific evidence showing that this is the humane and ethical approach. We are calling on SNH to call off plans to kill any more healthy hedgehogs when it meets on Tuesday. We continue to urge SNH to work with wildlife experts to relocate the animals on the mainland." The legendary Brian May from Queen is the latest celebrity to back Uist Hedgehog Rescue’s campaign. In a letter to SNH’s Chairman, Mark Markland CBE, Brian said: "For some time I have been aware that hedgehogs on the Uists are being killed for ’conservation’ purposes. As someone who believes that all animals are worthy of respect, this is of great concern to me. I understand that scientific evidence shows that hedgehogs can be translocated successfully. I therefore cannot understand why on earth SNH is continuing with the policy of unnecessarily killing these animals. I urge Scottish Natural Heritage to reconsider any plans it has to continue slaughtering these healthy wild animals in 2006. Instead, please work with the Uist Hedgehog Rescue experts to relocate these animals to the mainland where they can live out their lives. Brian has also expressed his concerns to the Uist Wader Project’s other partner organisations, the Scottish Executive and RSPB Scotland. Brian joins a growing list of celebrities supporting UHR’s campaign, including Joanna Lumley, Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, Jenny Seagrove, Martin Shaw, Carla Lane, Twiggy, Philippa Forrester, Sir Tim Rice, Richard Adams, Ann Widdecombe, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Ian Anderson, Baroness Miller and the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton. Notes to Editors UHR is a coalition of animal welfare, rescue and wildlife organisations and experts consisting of Advocates for Animals, British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust and International Animal Rescue. |
One thousand Uist hedgehogs relocated UIST Hedgehog Rescue moves hundreds more hedgehogs to mainland Scotland First hundred Uist hedgehogs released on mainland Scotland  |
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