Wildlife crime is a top priority for police in the north-east.

They walk along the banks of the River Dee with their heads down, looking for clues among the pebbles.

Suddenly, Constable Mike Whyte stops and crouches down, before waving something in the air.

As he and fellow wildlife officer Constable Steve Lafferty make their way back towards the ghillies hut, they find more of the dark shells that once protected the fresh water pearl mussels hunted by poachers.

Although today’s haul is not significant, there are marks on the shells that indicate a few may have been prised open – perhaps by someone after the pearls inside.

Coupled with a knife found by the riverside by a local angler, Constable Whyte believes it is “indicative” that poachers may have tried their luck at the well-known fishing spot.

Author: Shona Gossip

Source: The Press & Journal

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