The RSPB has called for a national 'gull summit' following a series of aggressive seagull attacks, including one that left a 66-year-old woman bloodied in Cornwall. Sue Atkinson was swooped upon near a primary school in Helston and required hospital treatment for a head wound.
The charity has asked Defra, Natural England, and the Marine Management Organisation to join talks, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested a 'big conversation' on the issue following an incident where a dog was killed by gulls.
Mrs Atkinson believes a cull of aggressive gulls is necessary, stating, 'They are seabirds and should not be in an urban environment.' However, the RSPB's Tony Whitehead urged that any discussions be based on 'the very best evidence' and not just focus on removing the birds.
Whitehead emphasised the need to learn more about gulls and find ways to coexist, highlighting that the underlying problem is the poor state of UK seas and wildlife. He called for measures such as a coherent network of Marine Protected Areas to address the root causes.
