The Scottish Government agency responsible for protecting wildlife has licensed the killing of 130,000 wild animals in the last five years.
Landowners and farmers are licensed to kill more than 1,300 brown hares every year during the breeding season, prompting accusations that their young will be left to starve to death.
At least nine million fish have been killed by diseases, botched treatments, poor handling and other problems at salmon farms around Scotland since 2016.
Animal welfare campaigners have criticised the Scottish Government for giving a £715,000 subsidy to one of Scotland’s largest egg producers with tens of thousands of caged hens.
A video of a dead fox being torn apart by a pack of hounds has been described by animal welfare charities as "abhorrent" and "barbaric".
New data has revealed more than 300 serious welfare breaches during live transport of animals in recent years.
Data obtained by The Ferret has revealed that most of the maintenance work carried out on Scotland’s rail viaducts in the last two years has failed to include recommended surveys for bats.
Revelations that farmers and landowners in Scotland have been licensed to kill more than 4,000 ravens in the last four years have sparked a chorus of criticism from campaigners.
The use of cleaner fish on Scottish salmon farms as a treatment for sea lice should be suspended due to serious welfare issues, according to a report by animal rights campaigners.
