In view of the massacre of mountain goats by National Trust (see story below) we are having a peaceful protest for International Animal Rights Day, Wednesday 10th December at the National Trust head office in North Wales. Details below:

The address for the demo is below, we are arranging to be at National Trust office for about 2.30pm until 3.30pm on Wednesday 10th December If anyone is interested please can they just turn up..

National Trust Offices,Trinity Square, Llandudno LL30 2DE. 2.30pm 10th December



Animal charity slams Trust's cull of goats in Snowdonia
Dec 8 2008 by Eryl Crump, Daily Post

A ROW has broken out between an animal charity and the National Trust over the cull of wild goats in Snowdonia.

It is believed more than 100 goats have been killed at various sites in Snowdonia in recent weeks.

The park authorities claim numbers have spiralled out of control and accuse the goats of marauding through gardens, eating tree saplings, knocking down walls and even causing road accidents.

But animal charities claim the creatures are convenient scapegoats, blamed for damage caused by sheep, horses, rabbits and humans.

They argue the National Trust could use fences to contain them, but have rejected the measure because of the cost.

Wild goats with long coats and curved horns are thought to have roamed the hills of North Wales since the last ice age nearly 10,000 years ago.

Their numbers are thought to have increased since winters in the remote landscape became milder, meaning more kids survive.

Culling started two years ago when about 50 goats were killed at sites near Beddgelert, Harlech and Llanberis.

A further cull was carried out last year. More than 200 goats are believed to have been culled.

A spokesman for the National Trust said the goat population has risen from 166 to 450 in a decade.

"This is causing serious ecological damage and harming efforts to enhance the biodiversity of the area," he said.

The Countryside Council for Wales, Snowdonia National Park Authority and the local council have all recognised that culling the goats using qualified and experienced marksmen was "appropriate and humane", he added.

"If the population is not controlled it is highly probable that landowners and possibly third parties will take the matter into their own hands and cull feral goats in a less controlled and humane manner, potentially causing both suffering to the goats and further exacerbating the current problem," the Trust spokesman said.

But the charity Animal Aid accused the trust of rejecting the more humane method of fencing off areas of land as being too costly.

Spokeswoman Kate Fowler-Reeves said: "Goats are accused of damage to the land and to shrubs which may actually be caused by other animals – including humans. The culling of animals is not only cruel but also ineffective.

"It amounts to nothing more than a short-term stopgap, and species' populations invariably soon return to their previous numbers.

"This is not the first time the National Trust has been criticised for killing wild goats.

"It will find itself increasingly in the spotlight over this issue, especially if it is not seen to be making enough of an effort to deal with the situation humanely."