Grey Partridge 'not suitable for Manx landscape'

Charity not consulted prior to plans being published

The Isle of Man does not have a suitable landscape for non-indigenous bird species like the Grey Partridge.

That's the view of Manx Birdlife after Environment Minister Geoffrey Boot put forward plans to import the partridges for hunting.

The charity says it and the Manx Wildlife Trust have not been consulted on the plans, which were due to go before Tynwald this month, but have now been delayed until later in the year.

The organisation believes bringing the birds to the Island is unlikely to improve the Island's biodiversity.

It adds that typically only a proportion of released birds are shot, with most often left to starve or die of disease.