Scottish SPCA |
Scotland’s Animal Welfare Charity
GUEST Q&A: JOHN DARBYSHIRE, ECOLOGIST
Meet John Darbyshire, an independent ecological consultant and lecturer at Edinburgh University. John acts as an expert witness in cases involving wildlife crime and has surveyed the whole of the River Clyde for badger setts – an 800-mile walk to investigate connectivity and meta-populations!
How does what you do help the Scottish SPCA protect animals? I work with the Society’s Special Investigations Unit, who are experts in bringing animal welfare cases to court. The Scottish SPCA relies on assistance from specialists such as vets and the police. My expertise is in mammals and in particular badgers, and my input contributes to prosecutions which helps to save the lives of badgers, dogs and other species too. Successful law enforcement creates caution and fear for criminals. The more we can bring these people to court, the more we will win over the hearts and minds of humans and push for a more proportionate understanding of the natural world. The Scottish SPCA is a welfare organisation and it exists to educate the public to respect all animal life and in doing so respect the whole environmental network which supports us all. I hope I play a part in this effort.
When you assist the Scottish SPCA in an investigation, what does that typically involve? I am in regular and close contact with the Special Investigations Unit. We’ve got a well-established working relationship. When they investigate criminal activity, the team make a judgement call on whether they need help based on their own expertise and the benefit an expert may bring in terms of securing a successful prosecution. A call is made and I step in to help. The team do all the ground work such as police liaison and obtaining warrants. I give advice on how I can best assist. We all work together to achieve what we need to. My role is often to identify whether the target animal is a protected species such as a badger, and that the location of the incident is a badger sett in ‘current use’. ‘Current use’ is the phrase used in the legislation, so it is vital this is established at a crime scene or a case involving a badger could fail.
