AM URGES ACTION ON NUMBER OF RAVEN ATTACKS ON WELSH LIVESTOCK
A media release on 21st May 2008
William Graham AM today pressed the Welsh Assembly Government for action to better address the increased number of attacks on Welsh livestock by ravens this spring.
Questioning the Assembly Rural Affairs Minister on the issue in the Senedd this afternoon, the Conservative AM for South Wales East said:
‘Welsh Farmers have reported an unusually high number of attacks by ravens on new born and young lambs. The ravens often go for the tongue, eyes and tails of vulnerable lambs, resulting in distress for the animals and financial loss for the farmer.’
‘Farmers have cited European farming regulations that require the immediate removal of dead animals from the ground as the reason why their lambs are attacked in the absence of carrion.’
‘While I certainly would never advocate either lifting the ban on shooting ravens or encouraging farmers and gamekeepers to seek licences to cull the animals, I would urge the Rural Affairs Minister to be more proactive in taking measures to address the problem’.
‘We must be smarter in working within existing guidelines to limit the number of lambs attacked but also secure the long term future of these magnificent birds in Wales. In certain cases we could consider following the example set in many of the areas where sheep graze in the National Parks in France. In Vercors National Park they have feeding areas for birds of prey – in their case vultures. They have a fenced area, and the dead sheep are left there.’
William Graham JP, AM
CHIEF WHIP, PARTY CHAIRMAN AND EUROPEAN SPOKESMAN
Email – William.Graham@Wales.gov.uk