THE Scottish Government have said they have no plans to grant protected status to primitive goats near Langholm.
Their decision comes after a petition, created by Kenneth Moffatt, amassed more than 11,500 signatures.
Oxygen Conservation owns just under 12,000 acres of moorland near Langholm, which includes the former Blackburn and Hartsgarth Farms.
The company insisted the goats, which have roamed the land for centuries, were impacting upon their conservation proposals, and they pressed ahead with culling some of the animals.
That upset many people locally and the campaign was set up to try and protect the animals.
In response to the petition, a written submission was published by the Scottish Government’s Wildlife Management Team last week.
It said: “The Scottish Government currently has no plans to provide full legal protected status for primitive goats, or feral goats as they are more commonly known.
“In terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, feral goats are considered to be outwith their native range in Scotland, which means it is an offence to release goats into the wild without a licence from NatureScot.
“Whilst feral goats can bring benefits, they are an invasive non-native species that can cause damage to the natural environment and forestry interests.”
They added the benefits but noted populations could at times require management.
The submission continued: “The Scottish Government fully understands that feral goats are of local cultural and historical significance, not just in the Scottish Borders, but across Scotland providing opportunities for wildlife watching and wildlife tourism.
“Feral goats can also have positive benefits for biodiversity by preventing open habitats from scrubbing over and providing food for eagles and carrion feeders.
“Goats have been used to control scrub on a number of nature reserves in Great Britain, including Tentsmuir in Fife.
“However, feral goat populations may need to be managed as part of a sustainable grazing management plan.
“Sometimes feral goat numbers need to be reduced to prevent damage to sensitive habitats or forestry interests, in much the same way deer are required to be managed.
“The main impacts are from feral goats browsing native vegetation, particularly trees and shrubs. Goats are able to reach cliff ledges that are inaccessible to other large herbivores.
“In Scotland, browsing and trampling by feral goats has been recorded as a negative pressure on 29 protected nature conservation sites, although, in most instances, goats contribute to the overall pressure, along with other large herbivores.”
The submission concluded: “In regard to the specific circumstances at Langholm, it is for the landowners Oxygen Conservation Limited to consider how any reduction in the feral goat population should be achieved in practice.
“We understand that the landowner is not calling for eradication of the feral goats but that all future herbivore management will be informed by monitoring the species, including undertaking goat population surveys and regular Herbivore Impact Assessments.”
A further petition to halt the culling of goats on the Langholm Fell attracted just under 3000 supporters.
