Hopes that the remaining roe deer at Diageo in Leven could be saved have been dashed and the controversial cull is to recommence.
The herd has roamed free at the Banbeath bottling plant for the past 10 years but the land is needed for a huge £86 million expansion and the company sought advice from experts, including the Deer Commission, about what to do with the animals.
That advice concluded that there was no way the deer could be safely relocated and Diageo reluctantly agreed that they should be killed.
However, concerned animal lovers mounted a determined campaign to have the decision overturned and more than 2000 local people signed a petition urging the drinks giant to think again.
The cull began but Diageo then suspended it to allow wildlife expert Les Stocker, of St Tiggywinklesfame, to travel to Fife and investigate whether or not the remaining 12 animals could be safely moved.
He did that on Friday but concluded this cannot be done and the company confirmed that the rest of the deer will now be culled.
Michael Alexander, Diageo’s head of corporate affairs in Scotland, said, “Following a detailed assessment of the situation, Les Stocker and his consultant vet advised Diageo that he and his team do not believe the deer can be safely captured and relocated without severely compromising the welfare of the deer.
“They were concerned for the welfare of the animals during the capture and have now agreed with the earlier expert advice that, in the best interests of animal welfare, the deer should be culled.
“This will be carried out as humanely as possible by qualified professionals, in consultation with a vet and the police.”DisappointmentMarylyn Melbourne, one of the leading lights in the campaign to save the deer, said that she was extremely disappointed but it now looked as if the end of the road had been reached.
“Les said that the animals are all grouping together and that to try and break them up so they could be moved would be very difficult.
“They can’t dart or net them because the ground is so open and Les estimated that many would be injured trying to catch them.
“He said that there is nothing wrong with the deer health-wise, but trying to move them would just be too much of a problem.
“I cannot take it in, but Diageo have consulted the specialists as we asked them to do and we have to respect what’s being said.”
She continued, “I am very disappointed at the outcome. I am devastated for the people of Leven and the deer because no one expected this result.
“However, it’s better to have tried and lost than never to have tried at all. We gave it our best shot and we let Diageo know that people had the right to have a say in the matter.”