Unfair attack on gamekeepers, who have a role in conservation effort

In his report, "Hundreds more British species are placed on 'at risk' register" (28 August), Ian Johnston writes: "Perhaps surprisingly, the golden eagle is not mentioned despite there only being about 440 pairs in Scotland and the threat from poisoning by gamekeepers and other forms of persecution."

The perpetrators of the recent golden eagle poisoning incident in Peeblesshire have yet to be found. It is highly unlikely this crime was committed by gamekeepers, or anyone connected with the estate where the eagles were nesting. These people had looked after the birds in secret for ten years.

The statement that golden eagles are at risk from gamekeepers is unhelpful, and unfair, and shows a complete lack of understanding of wildlife management and the work of gamekeepers.

The article does, however, raise concerns over conservation of threatened species. Surely, the key to protecting our wildlife is for government, scientists, NGOs and, of course, the gamekeepers themselves, to work in partnership to improve habitat and eradicate wildlife crime.

TONY ANDREWS, Chief Executive, SCA West Mains Cottage, Ingliston, Edinburgh

The case of the poisoned eagle must not be allowed to fade away.

Correspondence in The Scotsman has given us many of the facts, the pictures, the cause of death, the name of the poison and the retribution awaiting the culprit; but not the name of the anonymous shooting estate, as if one could not guess.

It is pretty obvious why the estate managers desire this secrecy. The grouse shooting is in full swing and the customers have priority, in this case, over the law.

These customers pay much for the shoot, and the sponsors, of course, claim this is contributing to the Scottish economy, as indeed it does - to the estate itself and the local hostelries in which the customers relax.

Meantime, moorland is plundered to make their Roman holiday, even to the extent of driving mountain hares to near extinction.

It should be brought to the attention of those in Holyrood that Scotland has outgrown the illusion of former days, of being the sporting playground for the rich and the established, and, more importantly, that breaches of the law have certain and, hopefully, swift consequences.

WILLIAM SPEIRS, Buccleuch Street, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire