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To: PAUL MONAGHAN MP
STOP the John Muir Trust from massacring our Scottish Red Deer.
Please stop the John Muir Trust from killing any more Red Deer in Assynt and Knoydart.
Why is this important?
Red deer are native to our wild lands and one of the many reasons why tourists and cash rich stalkers come to visit these generally economically disadvantaged areas. The Red Deer are beautiful majestic animals and must be managed in a way as to assure there is a viable population for all. JMT preach "deer management" which to them means kill on sight to protect uneconomic tree species. JMT are ONLY interested in the ancient woodland at Ardvar, Knoydart and their other reserves to the detriment of anyone and anything else. This year the JMT shot and killed 86 stags on Knoydart which was 38% of all stags culled in the area despite them owning only 4% of that land mass and figures. The story is the same in Assynt. Most of these stags were shot and then just left to rot on the open hill which is clearly unacceptable.
Locals have volunteered to fence off the areas that they want to preserve; their response was no. Fence off your land instead. This would mean hundreds of miles of fencing which would be unsustainable, unaffordable and nonviable. The red deer roam from estate to estate as they have always done. JMT want them penned in like pets which is disgusting coming from a trust that preaches conservation and natural habitats. They are killing not only the red deer but our way of life and our livelihoods.
For more information please visit
http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/dozens-of-shot-stags-left-to-rot-on-knoydart-hillside-1-3982538
and
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article4646287.ece
If this unsustainable deer management practice is allowed to continue it will lead to many job losses in areas adjacent to JMT land. This in turn will leave many families with no choice but to sell up and depart these already underpopulated but truly beautiful naturally wild areas.
