“The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has expelled four of the organisation’s members for wildlife offences, it was revealed today.

The organisation, which represents all gamekeepers, stalkers, ghillies, wildlife managers and rangers in Scotland, has taken the ultimate sanction against the four unidentified members in recent weeks.

And today Alex Hogg, the chairman of the SGA, called for “responsible game managers” to be given a greater role in eagle conservation in Scotland.

Mr Hogg said it would be wrong for government agencies to overlook the contribution conservation-minded gamekeepers already make to protecting iconic birds of prey like the golden eagle and other raptors.

And he revealed that the organisation had completed a survey of members in the keepered grouse areas of East and Central Scotland which has identified at least 55 active eagle nests which were still in place since the last census was taken in 2003.

Source: The Scotsman

Author: Frank Urquhart

To read the full article: http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/4-scots-gamekeepers-expelled-for-wildlife-offences-1-2988574