Scotland can lead the way on ending animal cruelty
Mark Ruskell, Rural Affairs and Environment spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP candidate for Mid-Scotland and Fife, today (14 March) challenged Scottish Ministers to be bold, stand up to vested interests and prevent cruelty to Scotland's wildlife.
At the weekend it was revealed that some landowners have been carrying out large-scale culls of mountain hares.
In January, parliamentary questions by Green MSP Alison Johnstone revealed that beavers that were heavily pregnant or had recently given birth had been shot. Ministers have yet to decide whether to give beavers legal protection.
And ministers are under pressure to tighten up foxhunting legislation after allegations that hunts regularly break the law.
Mark Ruskell, Rural Affairs and Environment spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP candidate for Mid-Scotland and Fife, said:
"Cruelty to animals is something Scots feel strongly about but sadly we have a Scottish Government reluctant to take the the bold and urgent steps required to protect our wildlife. Ministers are sitting on the fence, when they need to stand up to vested interests.
"By bringing in protected status for beavers, tightening legislation on foxhunting and cracking down on landowners who allow mass hare culls, Scotland can lead the way on ending animal cruelty. With a stronger Green voice at Holyrood we can push Scottish Ministers to be bold and deliver the protections we need."
Outrage of landowners mass killing of mountain hares (Sunday Herald)
'Urgent' call for Scots beavers to be recognised as native species (BBC)
Animal rights groups accuse Scottish police of pro-fox hunting bias (Sunday Herald)