A COMPANY which owns just under 12,000 acres of land on the Langholm Moor has pressed ahead with plans to slaughter feral goats which roam the site.
Oxygen Conservation revealed their plans to cull the animals last month after a survey found the population was rapidly increasing and negatively impacting upon conservation proposals.
This week they confirmed that the culling of goats on the Blackburn and Hartsgarth Estate – on the Scottish Borders side of the moor – had taken place.
It comes despite widespread opposition to the proposals, which included a petition with almost 3000 signatures and politicians urging the private company to pursue an alternative course of action.
A Oxygen Conservation spokesperson said: “Yes, we have been culling the goats on our estate, with a current focus on male goats, as the nannies are pregnant or have young kids. This has now come to an end till later in the year.
“Regarding the goats culled so far, the meat has been sent to Scottish-based collectors to enter the food chain.
“We acknowledge the community’s petition and understand the concerns, but our position statement has been shared, and we have no additional comments at this time.”
Annandale East and Eskdale councillor Denis Male was extremely disappointed after learning the news that the cull had taken place with no consultation.
He said: “I think here you will find everybody is disgusted. There was no consultation looked at. People are absolutely shocked. There’s a petition with almost 3000 signatures.
“They could have put them across to the other moor. There has not been any discussion with anybody about it.
“The petition was there ready to go. I have written to Oxygen Conservation twice.
“They obviously don’t care. The goats roam freely, it’s not as if they’re stuck there. They could have easily been pushed on.
“We have contacted NatureScot to see if they can halt it but it’s too late for the male goats.”
Oxygen Conservation also supplied a document giving more details on the goat management.
It said: “Over the past 12-18 months, we’ve been keeping a close eye on the wild goat population across the estate.
“Surveys and data reports have confirmed that there are over 140 goats
roaming the landscape, and after careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult but necessary decision to reduce their numbers as part of our wider restoration efforts.
“Just as we’ve done with our deer management, we’ve developed a plan that balances the needs of the land, wildlife, and wider ecosystem.
“The reality is, the presence of goats is having a significant impact on the natural environment and will put incredible strain on our wider conservation plans including both woodland and peatland restoration.
“We know conservation is full of tough choices, and this one wasn’t made lightly. We took expert advice, explored all options, and ultimately, this is the step we need to take to bring long-term benefits to the landscape.
“At the same time, we’re making sure that nothing goes to waste – ensuring the goat meat enters the food chain in a responsible way.
“Conservation decisions can be incredibly complex, we truly believe this is the right step for the long-term health of the landscape.”
