Sir, I write in relation to two claims made by Iain Thornber in his column Morvern Lines (The Oban Times, March 8). The first is where he claimed that red deer numbers in the West Highlands are ‘already at their lowest ever’. His claim was then used to prop up a lurid argument against proposed re-introduction of lynx, albeit confused by conflation of lynx and wolves.
I’m no authority on ecological matters, I am just one of a newer generation of readers who will not blindly accept every claim presented as fact, especially when the claim is then used in a clear and tabloid attempt to colour the thinking of the reader in relation to events yet to happen. It’s never been easier for the ordinary person to carry out their own online research to check such claims.
The Scottish Government report, Wild Deer in Scotland, 13/74, November 8, 2013, says: ‘Red deer numbers on the open hill have increased substantially (around a 75-80 per cent increase) since the 1960s’ and ‘The most recent population estimates for Scotland suggest overall numbers of between 360,000-400,000 red deer’.