THE Scottish Greens have proposed an end to the licensed killing of beavers.
In an amendment to the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill, which will be debated in the Scottish Parliament next week, Green MSP Mark Ruskell is looking to tighten licensing conditions for killing beavers.
The change would mean Scottish ministers would have to be satisfied that the population of beavers in Scotland was "at a favourable conservation status".
A report from Scottish Natural Heritage showed that 87 beavers were legally killed in 2019, all in the Tayside region.
Ruskell said: "The fact that a fifth of Scotland's beaver population has been killed under licence since the Scottish Government supposedly protected them is nothing less than a scandal.
"Incredibly, these senseless deaths were focused in one part of Scotland.
"There is simply no need for these animals to be killed. Plenty of options exist to allow farmers to adapt and live with beavers, and in extreme circumstances they can be moved to other parts of the country.
"Beavers are supposed to be a protected species, and I intend to make that ambition a reality next week."
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