They were set up by The Wild Goat Conservation Group, who want protected status granted to primitive goat species which roam the moor by implementing a herd conservation management plan.
And they want Oxygen Conservation, who own part of the moor, to stop their cull of the animals.
Of their pair of petitions – which have achieved more than 5000 signatures combined, one has been lodged at the Scottish Parliament and the other was yesterday handed to politicians at Newcastleton and posted out to others.
At the presentation were John Lamont MP and Rachael Hamilton MSP, while copies went to Oliver Mundell MSP, David Mundell MP and Emma Harper MSP.
Gail Brown, secretary and vice-chair of the newly formed group, set up the first petition on change.org, calling for a halt to the culling.
She said: “The response was overwhelming, local people felt dismayed and outraged at the shooting of the charismatic wild goats that have roamed our hills for centuries.
“Evidently, Oxygen Conservation had total disregard for the fact that they were shooting our wild goats right in the middle of their breeding season and this only added fuel to the fire.”
David Braithwaite, a local sheep farmer and chairman of the group, added: “This ancient herd of wild goats has been naturalised to these hills for at least several centuries. They are an integral part of the ecology of the hills and moors to which they are hefted. They are the very spirit of our uplands.
“Whilst we may agree that in the longer term the herd may require management, currently there is insufficient knowledge to base any culling activity.
“We feel the weight of the obligation to ensure that so many local voices are heard and heeded and are extremely pleased that our local politicians are taking this matter very seriously.
“In the end, we believe that the Scottish Government will have to fix the delicate tenure of this ancient herd by granting our wild goats legal protection.
“As wild animals the goats are not owned by anyone, but the recent events have shown that they must surely belong to the people of Scotland who hold them in such great esteem.”
Oxygen Conservation purchased just under 12,000 acres on the moor – Hartsgarth and Blackburn Farms – in 2023.
Last month they confirmed the culling of some of the male goats had taken place, with a spokesperson saying: “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.”
