Protesters gather in bid to save Windermere Canada Geese from cull
Last updated at 10:47, Tuesday, 13 March 2012
ALL they were saying was ‘give geese a chance’.
The picturesque postcard setting of The Glebe at Bowness was swarmed by an army of placard-bearing protesters on Saturday.
Campaigners fighting plans to shoot 200 Canada Geese this spring took to the town to voice their disgust at the Lake District National Park Authority’s Windermere Geese Management Group’s decision.
Local residents were joined by supporters from across the UK as they took part in a peaceful protest organised by Windermere-based pressure group ‘Save Windermere Canada Geese’.
Signs bearing stern messages; ‘Save the Windermere 200’ and ‘No to cruel geese cull’, lined Windermere waterfront as campaigners chanted, banged drums and rallied support from visitors to the tourism hotspot.
Kathy Musker, founder of Respect for Wildlife and protest leader, said: “The protest has gone very well, lots of people came along from all over the country.
“They’re all here because they want to stop this barbaric slaughtering.
“We have made a lot of people aware of what was happening.
“A lot of them didn’t know about it and they have said they will support us.
“The Lake District National Park Authority is a public body and they are not listening to the public. They are just puppets for local landowners.
“Visitors we have spoken to are just as horrified as local people. They come to this area for the wildlife. We’ve had nothing but support.”
The protest came after charity Animal Aid announced it had serious misgivings about the legality of the cull.
Celebrities including Queen guitarist Brian May and Bill Oddie have also thrown their weight behind an anti-cull campaign. An online petition had gathered more than 3,400 signatures yesterday(11/3).
Grange-based ornithologist Clive Hartley said: “There is no scientific justification. It is unnecessary, inhumane and it is not going to work.
“People have turned up to make their views known. They want to stand up and be counted.”
Jenny Farish, 41, of Fallowfield Avenue, Ulverston, and her husband Stuart were among campaigners who went along to show their support.
Mrs Farish said: “I am an animal lover and I think it is totally over the top what they are accusing the animals of doing. I’m encouraged by what I have seen today. It is difficult for us to turn out in force, but there are a lot of people who are against this cull.”
First published at 13:04, Monday, 12 March 2012
Published by http://www.walneylocal.co.uk
One of the reasons for culling the geese is the ridiculous excuse that they are 'foreign'. Most species, on this small island are not indiginous, including the flore and fauna. If we 'culled' everything
that isn't native to our land, there would be far less trees, flowers and birds. The next thing we'll do is give migrating birds passports or send them packing if they outstay their welcome!
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The large numbers of geese are upsetting the natural balance because we have removed all their natural predators - except ourselves!So WE have to control the numbers, so that they don't affect other species - such as the rare Char in the lake.
Get real. Cull them - but don't waste the meat.
As the carol (doesn't) say "Xmas is coming and the geese are getting flat!"
Posted by Andy on 8 April 2012 at 20:08