Goat group accepts Tarras position

A TRUST which aims to support the conservation of wild goats on the Langholm Moor have now accepted some may need to be culled.

On Monday the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve became the latest to announce they intend to cull 20 per cent of the goats on their land over the next two years in autumn shootings.

The reserve has estimated wild goat numbers to be between 800 and 900 on their land.

Tarras Valley – which consists of 10,500 acres – is part of the 30,000 acre upland area known as the Langholm and Newcastleton Hills.

Under previous management the Buccleuch Estate had undertaken periodic culls to control the overall goat numbers. However, there was a furore earler this year when Oxygen Conservation bought 11,400 acres of the Newcastleton hills from Buccleuch and set about a cull to reduce the numbers by over 80 per cent.

Thousands of local people signed a petition to try and stop it, pointing out that wild goats make a positive contribution to the ecology of this upland area by helping to maintain an ‘open hill’ relatively free from rank vegetation and scrubland. In turn, this helps moorland breeding birds such as the curlew.

The Wild Goat Conservation Trust (TWGCT) wishes to see a self-sustaining, robust and resilient population of wild goats allowed to continue to roam freely across the area.

However, they recognise the herd will need to be managed, and they accept the nature reserve is acting responsibly and with due diligence.

Chairman David Braithwaite said: “Whilst we feel that the timing of this announcement is rather insensitive, given the events of this year in connection with goat culling and public petitions in support of the goats, we respect Tarras’ action to carefully manage wild goat numbers on their land.

“However, this continues to emphasise the need for an overarching plan to properly conserve the goats and the granting of their protected status.”