Dear All

We wanted to update you on a very sad and disturbing discovery. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) has been allowing fox hunting with dog packs in the national forest estate. This is of course relevant to our campaign because the Clashindarroch Forest is also managed by FLS. It demonstrates a culture of officials and advice being overruled by Ministers abusing their position, and policies to protect animal welfare and wildlife being dropped as a result.

The groups are alleged to be using hounds to flush out foxes to be shot to protect game birds or livestock. Such activities are believed to be providing cover for unlawful activities as well. This is unbelievably cruel and concerning that such Barbaric and reckless practices are being allowed in public forests. Of course the impact on other wildlife through disturbance can be catastrophic too. Imagine the impact on wildcats, pine martens, otters and badgers.

When we post updates you will sometimes see trolling of our posts by people trying to convince you that that Wildcat Haven is not ‘official’ because we aren’t involved in the government’s action plan called, ‘Scottish Wildcat Action’. We are very proud that we walked away from the government wildcat action plan echo chamber. Look at this situation now. Scottish Wildcat Action’s major partner is the FLS who have allowed fox hunting with dog packs on their land and are allowing a windfarm to be built on the Wildcat’s last stronghold. This disgusts us and we are glad that rather than partnering with the FLS we are holding them to account for logging the Clashindarroch Forest and the Wildcat’s home.

Here is the link to the fox hunting story.

https://theferret.scot/ewing-fox-control-hounds-forests/

The forests where fox hunting has taken place is south of Inverness. One of the forests, Glenkirk, is definitely potential wildcat habitat so who knows what has happened to the wildcats in the area that have been subjected to this disturbance.

Can we ask you to go onto the so called official government wildcat plan and ask them on their Facebook page why they are working with a major partner that is allowing fox hunting with dog packs to take place. Here is the link:

https://m.facebook.com/ScottishWildcatAction/

You can also tweet them @SaveOurWildcats

These revelations obviously raise much wider questions about Scottish conservation. We have shown you clear evidence that government agencies who are supposed to be protecting wildlife  such as wildcats, are allowing their forest homes to be logged for wind farms. We now find out that they are also allowing fox hunting with dog packs on their land. What worries us is that imagine if we hadn’t brought the Clashindarroch wildcat population to everyone’s attention. Would it too have packs of dogs running though it? Its too upsetting to even think about. At least our constant monitoring means that this can’t happen – and the Government knows we’re watching.

The FLS are clearly not suitable custodians of the Clashindarroch Forest and  we are more determined than ever to save this forest and get it special designation so that it can be protected forever. As you all know this is major focus of our campaign which we are working tirelessly to achieve.

We’ll keep standing up to these vested interests that believe they are above the law and keep exercising our legitimate and legal environmental rights to support us to do so.

Visit www.wildcathaven.com to find out more.

As always thanks in advance.

The Wildcat Haven Team