THE Scottish Greens are demanding Holyrood ministers put an end to “barbarism” with an outright ban on fox hunting.
Environment spokesman Mark Ruskell chas warned loopholes in legislation continue to allow fox hunting to take place.
The Scottish Government, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has voiced opposition to the practice and pledged to change regulations after the 2021 Holyrood elections.
The Greens made a similar call last year, ahead of the traditional Boxing Day hunts.
Ruskell said: "The fox is a much-loved animal and an iconic British wildlife species. The killing of foxes for sport using hunting dogs was meant to have been banned in Scotland in 2002, but in reality, loopholes in the law mean that little has changed.
"Hunts still go out, pursuing and killing foxes, with hundreds of foxes thought to still be killed by hunting dogs.
"Even this year, when many of us have been restricted to our homes by unprecedented public health measures, hunts have continued.
"It's time that an end was brought to this cruel practice by removing all the loopholes that were built into the current legislation, giving Scotland the watertight ban that the public wants.
"The Scottish Government claims it opposes foxhunting. So ministers must end this barbarism once and for all."
Holyrood ministers have said they will implement the recommendations of a review of foxhunting in Scotland by Lord Bonomy, which concluded in 2016.
A spokesman for the Scottish Government commented: "Ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare in Scotland is critically important to the Scottish Government.
"That is why, amongst other measures, we have increased the maximum penalty for the most serious wildlife crimes and announced the introduction of licences for grouse-shooting businesses.
"We have pledged to further strengthen the law on the use of dogs for fox control in the next parliament by implementing the majority of recommendations made by Lord Bonomy in his review of foxhunting in Scotland, and we also intend to take further steps to prevent a pack of dogs accidentally or deliberately being allowed to kill foxes.
"Work on several pieces of legislation, including that for fox control, was paused in 2020 to prioritise the legislative changes required in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Legislation on fox control will be taken forward as soon as it is practicable to do so, after the pandemic has eased."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel