Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is seeking stakeholders’ views on its future role in “wildlife management”.
Through this consultation we can see that the conservation body is planning for the impact of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill which is currently progressing through the Scottish Parliament. Under this, SNH is expected to have a greater role in areas such as species licensing and control of invasive non-native species.
Now it seems to us at OneKind that most wild animals get along pretty well without being 'managed' - but we know that isn’t the official line and SNH are of course quite right to seek views from all parties. So we will contribute to the debate with a considered response, focusing on the welfare of animals subject to these policies and programmes.
Unfortunately, when applied to wild animals, the terms 'management' and 'control' translate all too often into plans for their destruction. The distinction that is made between wild and domestic animals, in terms of what the law allows humans to do to them, is often artificial – based on culture, tradition and human needs and priorities rather than any scientific assessment of sentience and welfare.
The end result is that a fox can be left to struggle in a snare for up to 24 hours, even though it would be illegal to do the same to its cousin, the dog.
One proposal that will feature strongly in our response is for all 'management' programmes to be subject to an animal welfare impact assessment, similar to the environmental impact assessments that are required by law for certain developments.
Models for animal welfare assessments have been proposed by academics in Europe and in New Zealand and Australia, where animal welfare laws are similar to those in the UK, and we have been promoting these for several years now. As a minimum, they should include:
- Full discussion of the general animal welfare principles to be applied.
- A comparative welfare assessment of methods that may be used.
- Consideration of the timing and duration of the operation to include assessment of, for example, the impact on dependent young.
- A provision for ongoing monitoring or regular review of animal welfare issues.
- The involvement of an independent animal welfare monitor so that the appropriate issues are considered.
We hope that our views will influence thinking in the conservation and wildlife sector.