WILDLIFE commentator Chris Packham was this week accused of 'betraying' conservation with a litany of 'falsehoods and smears' about grouse moors.

Packham appeared on the Jeremy Vine show on Radio 2, to discuss reports of the disappearance of two satellite-tagged golden eagles in Perthshire.

During the interview he referred to grouse moors as ‘industrialised landscapes’ where ‘there’s not much else living except grouse’ and said grouse moors were continuing to perpetrate ‘old lies’ about how moorland is managed.

Chairman of Scottish Land and Estates, David Johnstone, appeared alongside Packham on the programme. Speaking afterwards, Mr Johnstone said: “Given Chris Packham’s profile as a wildlife presenter, many people will take what he says at face value. Regrettably for someone supposedly committed to conservation he actually betrays the efforts of conservationists who take pride in the scientific rigour of their work.

“To suggest that ‘not much else’ lives on grouse moors except grouse is a ridiculous accusation which he repeats ad nauseum in his pursuit of banning grouse shooting," said Mr Johnstone.

“Well established scientific research by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust demonstrates that while managed grouse moors will have less predatory species such as foxes, crows and stoats, this results in significantly higher numbers and diversity of rare birds such as curlew, lapwing, golden plover, ring ouzel, black grouse than on moorland where those predators are not controlled.

“It is also now clear according to GWCT research that mountain hares also thrive on managed grouse moors to a far greater extent than on unmanaged moors. Unmanaged moorland – including some RSPB moorland ‘reserves’ – has comparatively poor levels of birdlife, whereas recent conservation research on estates such as Glenogil in Perthshire has revealed more than 100 different bird and wildlife species.

“Chris Packham is quick to accuse grouse moors of denying the reality of wildlife crime. This is not true," said the SLE chairman. "We condemn such behaviour out of hand but Scotland has made huge strides in taking instances of wildlife crime to their lowest ever levels. We should seek to build on that rather than smear and accuse people of crime."

The two missing eagles, Adam and Charlie, were wearing satellite tags which stopped working in April this year. Police Scotland conducted a search at Auchnafree Estate in Perthshire on May 23. The estate and its employees have been cleared of any involvement by police.

SLaE has stated that finding out what has happened to these eagles is of paramount importance and no effort should be spared in establishing the facts. Mr Johnstone added: “We are concerned that news of the disappearance of these birds has emerged through an anti-grouse shooting website rather than through the agreed Scottish Partnership Against Wildlife Crime communications channels. Yet again, it is stated that a crime has been committed – without evidence to support this claim.

“Again, this underlines the need for greater transparency over the collection and use of satellite tagging data, which is currently controlled by those with an anti-shooting agenda. We wholeheartedly support the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association which has launched a parliamentary petition calling for independent monitoring of satellite tags fitted to birds of prey. This could lead to greater accountability and could assist police in prosecuting potential wildlife crime as well as providing a more transparent record of raptor persecution.

“We reiterate our appeal for information over the two missing eagles in Perthshire and urge anyone with information to contact Police Scotland immediately.”