NEGLIGENCE may be threatening a rare Scottish bird with extinction, says the
European Commission.
Numbers of the grouse-like capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in
Scotland have plummeted from 20 000 in the mid-1970s to a thousand today.
Scientists say poor weather has cut the bird’s supply of plant food.
“The Commission is concerned that the United Kingdom authorities may not be
doing all they can to ensure adequate protection of the capercaillie,” says
George Kremlis of the EC Environment Directorate. It has asked Britain to
justify its use of high wire forest fences, which kill the birds and prevent the
population from…
