It is now an offence to kill or injure elves, transport them for breeding purposes or damage their habitats. Angus MacDougall of Scottish Unnatural Heritage commented ‘ we are delighted with this news, elves have long been a priority BAP species in Scotland so any protection offered by the EU helps us in our goal of a 50% increase in elf numbers in the Highlands’. Lobbyists for the Irish leprechaun are hopeful that they will receive similar status early in 2011.
