News
19 February 2007
Brian May and Joanna Lumley lead all-star call for end to Uist
hedgehog cull
UHR hopeful cull will end as SNH board meets on tuesday (20 February)
A number of high-profile personalities are supporting Uist Hedgehog Rescue’s (UHR)¹ call to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to end the cull of hedgehogs on the Uists. SNH’s Board meets on Tuesday 20 February to discuss a proposal from its scientific officers² to end the cull in favour of translocating the hedgehogs to the mainland.
The following personalities have written to SNH:
- Brian May CBE (Musician and guitarist for iconic rock group Queen)
- Joanna Lumley OBE (Actress and animal welfare advocate)
- Dr Jane Goodall DBE (Founder of Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace)
- Virginia McKenna OBE (Actress, star of film Born Free and founder and Ambassador of the Born Free Foundation)
- Carla Lane OBE (Writer of sitcoms such as The Liver Birds, Butterflies and Bread, and founder of the Animaline sanctuary and campaigner against live exports)
- Jenny Seagrove (Actress, recently starred in Judge John Deed)
- Celia Hammond (Top 60s model and founder of the Celia Hammond Animal Trust)
- John Challis (Actor, best known as ’Boycie’ in BBC’s Only Fools and Horses)
- Richard Adams (Author, best known for Watership Down)
- Emma Milne BVSc MRCVS (Practising vet and star of BBC’s Vets in Practice)
- Carol Royle (Actress, best known for lead role in BBC sitcom Life without George); and The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton (The Duchess is Chair of Advocates’ Committee)
In a letter³ to Andrew Thin, Chairman of SNH’s Board, they said:
"...I urge you to end the killing of hedgehogs on the Uists and instead to work with Uist Hedgehog Rescue to relocate these wild animals on the mainland."
UHR has opposed the killing of hedgehogs on the Uists since SNH announced its lethal policy in 2002. In order to save as many healthy wild animals as possible, UHR has rescued and relocated 756 hedgehogs from the Uists over the last four years.
The proposal to end the cull follows an announcement from the Scottish SPCA last week that it has changed its policy and supports UHR in calling for an end to the cull. The policy change followed new scientific research confirming that the relocation of hedgehogs from the Uists to mainland Scotland is humane.
The Uist Wader Project (UWP), consisting of SNH, the Scottish Executive and RSPB Scotland, has been killing hedgehogs on the islands since 2003 in an attempt to improve the breeding success of ground-nesting birds. Translocation of hedgehogs was considered as an option by the UWP, but rejected due to concerns that translocated animals would starve. The Scottish SPCA has previously supported this position. UWP has so far killed 658 hedgehogs on the islands.
Spokesperson for UHR, Ross Minett, said: "We are delighted to have such well-known and respected personalities supporting our call for an end to the cull of hedgehogs on the Uists. The future of the hedgehogs on the Uists now hangs in the balance. However, we are hopeful that SNH’s Board will follow the recommendation of its scientific officers and agree to end the cull in favour of translocation to the mainland.
We believe that scientific research and decades of practical experience have shown that translocation is the humane and ethical solution to this problem. In addition, we have already relocated hundreds of hedgehogs from the islands to the mainland over the last four years. We have written to SNH’s Board offering our expertise and experience and are hopeful that it will choose to end the cull."
A similar letter calling for an end to the cull has been sent to SNH from a number of animal welfare and conservation organisations including the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Jane Goodall Institute, Animal Aid, Animal Concern, Animal Protection Agency, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species, Mossburn Animal Centre and the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust.
Notes to Editors
For interviews, further information or photographs please contact UHR Spokesperson Ross Minett on 0131 225 6039 (07946 517585). Ross Minett will be attending SNH’s Board meeting at Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, from 9.30am on Tuesday 20 February. Hamish the Hedgehog, UHR’s 6-foot mascot, will be outside the meeting.
1. UHR is a coalition of hedgehog experts, animal welfare and wildlife rescue organisations consisting of Advocates for Animals, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust and International Animal Rescue. Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust has coordinated and overseen release of Uist hedgehogs and Gay or Andy Christie can be contacted on 01505 502415. For more information see www.uhr.org.uk
2. The paper from SNH officers to SNH’s Board proposing an end to the hedgehog cull can be found at: http://www.snh.org.uk/board/detail.asp?id=268. The Board of SNH is to agree its policy at a meeting at Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness from 9.30am on Tuesday 20 February.
3. Mr Andrew Thin
Chairman of the Board
SNH
Dear Mr Thin
POLICY ON UIST HEDGEHOG REMOVAL
I understand that your Board is shortly to review your policy regarding the culling of hedgehogs on the Uists.
I am aware that all major animal welfare and wildlife rescue organisations, including the Scottish SPCA, oppose the hedgehog cull and support the relocation of these wild animals to the mainland.
Recent scientific research has confirmed that the relocation of hedgehogs from the Uists to mainland Scotland is humane and viable.
Uist Hedgehog Rescue (UHR), a coalition of hedgehog experts, animal welfare organisations and wildlife rescuers, has rescued and relocated 756 hedgehogs from the Uists over the last four years. UHR has a proven track record and has offered to be involved should SNH decide to undertake translocation.
I urge you to end the killing of hedgehogs on the Uists and instead to work with Uist Hedgehog Rescue to relocate these wild animals on the mainland.
I would be grateful if you could please draw this letter to the attention of your Board.
Yours sincerely
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