Grant protected status to the British Primitive goats in Scotland
outcome
NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency, deems feral goats to be an invasive non-native species, stating that they can cause damage to other habitats. As a result, it is not illegal to shoot these goats. Due to animal welfare concerns, this petition was created to grant protection to these goats, and it was discussed at The Scottish Parliament. Surveys conducted found that the general public agreed further research is needed into the positive and negative ecological impacts and biology of wild goats, but overall, wild goats are deserving of the same protection as species such as wild deer.
“Removing certain animals have over hundreds of years shown the significant impact it can have on our ecological systems, grazing habitats and overpopulation of other animals, plant species, and often smaller details we never thought of or knew until such time as our world is impacted, and scientists discovers that those animals or species we neglected to look after had a greater impact on an ecological system than we realised”. ()
GOVERNMENT POSITION
The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 states that wildlife species are eligible for full legal protection if they are both endangered and native to Great Britain.
Scotland’s feral goats aren’t considered to be native to the UK, and so are not eligible for legal protection. Though there was some argument that these goats were distinctly native, the government conclusively made the disappointing decision to close this petition. After the petition failed, a closed hunting season was sought through a consultation.
VERIFY HUMANITY'S RESPONSE
Whilst Verify Humanity strives for all species to be given equal protection and recognise that a closed hunting season is better than full legalised hunting, we don’t support a closed hunting season, as we don’t support hunting under any circumstances.
Valid arguments in support of this petition were given, such as that of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service who suggested that goat grazing could have positive effects on the control of wildfires. We are hopeful that the government’s decision will be reconsidered.