Stop guerrilla rewilding, say Scottish gamekeepers after feral pigs released

Yahoo

12-02-2025

A gamekeeping body has pleaded with authorities to stop 'guerrilla rewilding' from becoming the norm after a group of pigs were illegally released in the Cairngorms.
The animals, which were released in the Uath Lochans area of the Cairngorms National Park on Monday, have been located.
On Wednesday, Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) said its staff were still trying to contain and humanely trap the animals.
The FLS said it would take advice from NatureScot and Police Scotland on what to do with them, and added they must be contained for their own welfare, and also due to the risk of spreading diseases through the park.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) described the release as a 'selfish and thoughtless act' that jeopardised the welfare of the animals, as well as posing a risk to livestock and to the public.
It came after four lynx were illegally released in the park last month, one of which died shortly after they were captured.
Credit: RZSS
The SGA said the release of the pigs appeared to be a form of 'guerrilla rewilding' by people 'frustrated' at official reintroduction processes.
'Rewilding is becoming popularised as a concept, and there's a lot of organisations pushing the rewilding mantra,' they said.
'It would appear that this is more a form of guerrilla rewilding.
'Perhaps people or devotees within that movement are becoming frustrated at the standard stakeholder processes which must happen around any reintroduction of species.'
The process, they explained, included 'negotiation with the people on the ground that will be most impacted' by any reintroduction such as farmers and local communities.
'It's the people who have to deal with the consequences of that, they should ultimately have the final sign-off, because they have got to live with it every day,' he said.
'If that process is not followed, then the authorities have to act decisively to ensure that this type of guerrilla rewilding does not take hold in Scotland as the norm'.
They added that the Scottish Government had 'emboldened' people to reintroduce species illegally when they took no action after the illegal release of beavers as early as 2001.
The SGA said the government's decision to protect the animals, alongside those reintroduced in an official trial in 2009, set 'a tone and a precedent' for this kind of action.
The organisation said that it is not known whether there is any connection between the release of the pigs and the lynx, though it is a possibility.
On Tuesday, Tom Cameron, the FLS north region area wildlife manager, said: 'FLS staff have located the pigs and are now working to contain them.
'As we work to do this, we are asking anyone not involved with the operation to stay away from the area so trained staff can do their job and the animals are not unduly stressed or startled.
'From their behaviour, it is apparent that these are domesticated pigs and the hope is we can live trap the group using a corral trapping system.
'Once caught, FLS will take advice from NatureScot and Police Scotland on what to do with them.'
He added: 'It is important to contain the pigs. This is for their own welfare and because we don't know their origin or whether there is the potential for them to spread any disease across domesticated livestock in the area.'
Police Scotland said it is aware of the incident, but is not actively involved at this stage.
On Monday, the park authority said on Facebook: 'The park authority condemns any illegal release of animals in the strongest possible terms.'
Scottish Land and Estates (SLE), which supports rural businesses, has condemned the 'reckless' release of the pigs, and encouraged anyone with information to contact police.
The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.
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