Question reference: S5W-30664
- Asked by: Alison Johnstone, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 13 July 2020
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 10 August 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will put in place to prevent further mass culling of mountain hares when the mountain hare closed season ends on 1 August 2020.
Answer
The Scottish Government has always been clear that any large-scale culling that threatens the conservation status of mountain hares is not acceptable.
However, as I stated during the stage 3 debate in Parliament there are a number of issues that must be fully considered ahead of the introduction of a licensing regime. I am now giving careful thought as to how that regime will work and when the protection will come into force and I will be discussing that in detail with stakeholders over the coming months.
We will be following the situation carefully for any indication of attempts to carry out excessive culls and will take steps to address this if necessary.