Chris Packham Steps Down as President of the Hawk and Owl Trust
Chris Packham is no longer the President of the Hawk and Owl Trust, announcing the news on Twitter yesterday:
I this week resigned as President of the Hawk and Owl Trust . Very sad , I’d been a member since 1975 .
— Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) February 7, 2015
Personal differences over ideas of policy . — Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) February 7, 2015
It is believed to be related to the Hawk and Owl Trusts stance on Hen Harrier recovery, in which their chairman has suggested they may be involved in a brood management scheme as early as this spring, a move which is widely seen as giving in to hunting estate owners and ignoring the main issue of persecution. Links to more information can be found on our previous post: Hawk and Owl Trust Criticized Over Stance on Hen Harriers
Reaction to the news
@ChrisGPackham Understandable. Hopefully this will show Philip Merricks that HOT views on hen harriers are not the way forward. Deep respect
— Samantha Farrell (@BlackLabrador10) February 7, 2015
@ChrisGPackham I admire you taking such a principled decision. There should be no discussion of HH brood management till persecution stops. — Ian Thomson (@Ian_M_Thomson) February 7, 2015
@ChrisGPackham Very sad to hear that, Chris – but not surprised. They will struggle to find a President to compare…. & to retain members
— Ann (@AnnRSPBNBucks) February 7, 2015
@ChrisGPackham resigns from Hawk and Owl Trust. https://t.co/A0AWbbOn4T — Raptor Persecution (@RaptorPersScot) February 7, 2015
@Hawkandowluk @MarkAvery We know persecution is key so how & when will it end? BM is a sideshow at best. The illegal killing is centre stage
— Des McKenzie (@McKenzie6593) February 7, 2015
@McKenzie6593 @Hawkandowluk @MarkAvery really annoys me that grouse industry is holding recovery of HH to ransom until they get their way. — Andy Field (@merseabirder) February 7, 2015
Chris Packham leaves @Hawkandowluk http://t.co/97X77qLdvs @ChrisGPackham @Natures_Voice @DefraGovUK @RaptorPersScot @birdersagainst
— Mark Avery (@MarkAvery) February 7, 2015
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An understandable move. Just because they “manage” broods doesn’t mean persecution will stop either. So it could just become another factor in their decline, adding to the problem.