WAWC produces Scottish “manifesto”

The Wild Animal Welfare Committee has submitted a summary of wildlife welfare issues to the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment (RAINE) Committee of the Scottish Parliament, which is conducting an enquiry into animal welfare. The Committee has received submissions from and interviewed a number of animal welfare stakeholders, focusing mainly on farming and companion animal issues.

WAWC Chair, Dr Pete Goddard, said:

“We welcome the RAINE Committee’s interest in animal welfare which is an essential part of its remit and one that receives considerably more attention in the Scottish Parliament than it used to. However, as is often the case, we felt that there could have been more recognition of the welfare needs of free-living wild animals and for that reason we decided to compile a document highlighting the main issues for the Committee. It has turned into something of a manifesto for wild animals in Scotland and we hope it will receive full consideration.”

The document covers issues such as trapping and snaring, marine mammal welfare, general licences for the taking and killing of birds and the management of wild beavers in Scotland.

Read the manifesto here.