Today in Focus It was a wildlife conservation triumph, then came the corpses
Jan 10, 2025
Phoebe Weston, a biodiversity writer at The Guardian, dives into the conflict between Scottish farmers and reintroduced sea eagles. She uncovers the emotional toll of farmers losing hundreds of lambs due to eagle predation, highlighting the tension between conservation efforts and agricultural losses. Weston discusses the complexities of rewilding, the challenges of coexistence, and the decline of rural communities. The conversation ultimately calls for collaboration between farmers and conservationists to find a sustainable solution.
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Lamb Carcass
- Phoebe Weston and David Coulthard found remnants of a lamb on a Scottish hillside.
- Coulthard believes a sea eagle killed the lamb, highlighting the conflict between rewilding and farming.
Conflicting Views
- Sea eagles, reintroduced to Scotland 50 years ago, are a conservation success story.
- However, farmers view them as a threat to their livestock, creating conflict.
Sea Eagle Reintroduction
- Sea eagles, native to the British Isles, were reintroduced to Scotland in 1975 after being persecuted to extinction.
- This reintroduction, initially celebrated, has become a source of contention due to alleged lamb predation.