FROM PROTECT THE WILD — A SCOTTISH VOICE IN SCOTLAND TO PROTECT THE WILD

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more A Scottish Voice for Scottish Wildlife A significant step forward for Protect the Wild! ROB POWNALL FEB 12 READ IN APP This is one of those emails I genuinely love writing because it marks a significant step forward for Protect the Wild and for our campaigning work north of the border. Over the past few months, what began as a focused campaign to end the Guga hunt has grown into something much bigger. The more time we have spent in Scotland travelling north, speaking to campaigners, examining the issue in detail, and listening to supporters, the clearer something became. If we are serious about ending the Guga hunt and serious about protecting wildlife across the UK, Scotland needs its own dedicated voice within Protect the Wild. Since our early beginnings, we have predominantly focused on England and Wales. That is where we started, where we built our base, and where much of the political pressure has been needed. But increasingly, more and more of you have contacted us about issues impacting wildlife in Scotland. You have asked us to investigate, to report, and to campaign. As we have spent more time north of the border, we have become increasingly aware of the scale of the challenges animals face there and the need for a sustained presence. So today I am proud to say that Protect the Wild is taking an important next step. Devon Docherty is joining Protect the Wild as our first dedicated campaigner based in Scotland, where she will lead our campaign to end the Guga hunt. Devon studied English Literature and Journalism before completing a Master’s degree in Human-Animal Interactions, where she published academic research on the psychology of animal consumption. She has worked in animal rights education and content creation, including producing pro-animal content with Earthling Ed that has reached millions, and has been actively involved in grassroots campaigning across Scotland for a number of years. Devon said: Scotland is my home, but it belongs to far more than just us. Our incredible landscapes are inseparable from the animals who live in them, yet those animals are still treated as expendable. I’m so excited that Protect the Wild is putting down roots here, giving Scotland’s wildlife a stronger voice at a time when it’s most needed. We're one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and while our leaders talk a good game about fixing that, they're still allowing what little wildlife remains to be hunted, persecuted and culled. That ends here and now. Devon’s primary focus will be leading our campaign to end the Guga hunt. This brutal and outdated practice now has a dedicated campaigner whose role is to build pressure, engage communities, challenge decision-makers, and work towards bringing it to an end. Having someone rooted in Scotland and focused entirely on this work significantly strengthens the campaign and gives it the consistent attention it requires. This appointment is also about the long term. As we expand our Scottish team over the coming months and years, we will take on more issues affecting wildlife in Scotland. We will investigate more, challenge more, and build a stronger presence. This is the beginning of a broader Scottish chapter for Protect the Wild. I also want to be very clear about how this has happened. In the first six weeks of this year alone, 633 people signed up to support Protect the Wild with a monthly donation. That surge in sustained support has given us the stability and confidence to grow. It has allowed us to expand our team and appoint a dedicated Scottish campaigner. This is exactly what monthly support makes possible. It turns ambition into action and plans into permanent capacity. If you are one of the 633 new monthly supporters or someone who has been backing us for even longer, thank you! You have directly helped make this happen. If you are not yet supporting us monthly, I hope you will consider joining today. Regular support is what allows us to plan responsibly, grow sustainably, and build campaigns that do not fade away after a headline. It is what allows us to hire campaigners, expand into new areas, and build a movement that strengthens year after year. Become a monthly supporter This is what building lasting change looks like. It happens step by step because people choose to stand with us consistently. Six hundred and thirty three people already have this year. Let’s keep building. Rob SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing