Stewart Whyte, Conservative MSP candidate for Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, has launched an online petition and facebook page to stop the planned deer cull by Aberdeen City Council.
Aberdeen City Council has designated Tullos Hill as a site for tree planting as part of a ‘tree for every citizen’ scheme. However there is a long-established Roe Deer community on Tullos Hill and they would eat the saplings.
On 3rd March 2011 the Council took the decision to cull the deer, however, they have postponed the cull until 10th May to allow people to raise £225,000 to fund tree guards and other measures to protect the saplings.
Mr Whyte said “I was totally shocked when I read this story and my immediate reaction was one of horror. It is staggering that a Council intends to kill animals in their natural habitat in order to plant trees. There is no demand for trees to be put on Tullos Hill. The Council is only doing it because trees were made available to them and there is room on Tullos Hill.
Even if the trees were appropriate there is no need to cull the deer. There are long established measures that can be taken to protect the saplings.
Councillor Aileen Malone said that she had had few objections from local people. I am giving the public an opportunity to test that theory. I have set up an e-petition at www.gopetition.com/petition/43630.html and a Stop the Deer Cull facebook page.
I urge everyone who thinks that the cull is wrong to sign the petition and together we can stop this senseless slaughter of animals.”