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The capercaillie, a species once native to Britain, became extinct there by the mid-18th century but saw a reintroduction to Perthshire in 1837. Despite ongoing efforts, their numbers have been impacted over the years by factors such as habitat destruction, predation on eggs, and collisions with deer fencing. In recent times, the Scottish government unveiled an emergency strategy aimed at increasing the population in the Cairngorms region. Encouragingly, since 2020, the population of breeding male capercaillies has seen a 50% rise.
In the midst of these conservation concerns, a visitor centre offering guided tours to view reindeer roaming freely in the area confirmed that these animals have been released onto the surrounding mountains. They emphasized that the reindeer are not near the recent fires and are expected to remain safe. Meanwhile, Ross Ewing of Scottish Land and Estates described the situation surrounding a fire outbreak as “clearly serious and fast-moving,” urging the public to keep access routes open for emergency responders. He also advised landowners and managers to prepare specialized firefighting equipment as a precaution.
Further advice came from the Glenmore Outdoor Centre, located close to the blaze, which requested visitors avoid traveling to the affected area. They stressed the importance of adhering to instructions provided by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and expressed appreciation for the patience of those managing the ongoing emergency. The Cairngorms National Park Authority called the fire “deeply concerning,” highlighting that such events, alongside other wildfires observed throughout the UK this week, underline the hazards posed by periods of hotter and drier weather.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, alongside the Scottish Wildlife Forum, issued a wildfire alert covering the central Highlands as well as parts of southern and eastern Scotland, effective from Wednesday through to the following Monday. Kevin Dingwall, the fire service’s wildfire tactical adviser, reminded the public that the warm and dry conditions increase wildfire risks and urged them to take “simple steps” to avoid starting fires during outdoor activities. He stressed that wildfires can cause extensive damage to homes, landscapes, and wildlife and urged people to avoid using open flames or barbecues in vulnerable areas. Dingwall also highlighted the importance of sharing wildfire warnings widely with family, friends, and visitors. In case of spotting a large outdoor fire, he strongly advised calling 999 immediately, providing precise details to enable swift fire crew responses
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