Record numbers of wild geese are spending the winter months in Scotland, research has shown.
The Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) survey indicated that many species of goose which had been dwindling in numbers had recovered significantly.
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They included the
pink-footed goose, Greenland white-fronted goose and two types of barnacle goose.
SNH said it had recorded some of the highest numbers of geese for almost a century.
The turning point appeared to have come in the 1950s, when geese were given protection from hunters.
A more recent tightening of the law and the success of goose management schemes gave many of the birds the chance to re-establish themselves.
The pink-footed goose had made the most dramatic recovery, with numbers up from fewer than 10,000 half a century ago to about 230,000 this year.
Story from:
BBC NEWS
Published: 2005/11/23 23:00:38 GMT
