The Scottish Government has been accused of "dragging its feet on animal cruelty" amid calls to ban mountain hare culls on the first day of the season.

Tens of thousands of hares will be killed before the season ends on February 28, mainly by gamekeepers on shooting estates.

Estate managers claim culls limit the spread of ticks and protect fragile environments.

However, campaigners believe the practice is cruel and unnecessary.

About 26,000 hares are killed each season on average, although over 37,000 were culled in 2014.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon previously called the large-scale culling of the species "unacceptable" and said the Scottish Government would address the issue.

Harry Huyton, director of animal welfare charity OneKind, said: "The First Minister and the cabinet secretary have both been clear that the large-scale culling of mountain hares is unacceptable, yet once again the killing season has begun and Scotland's mountain hares are left unprotected.

"It's time to say enough is enough. We're calling on the Scottish Government to move from rhetoric to action by introducing protections for mountain hares before the killing reaches its peak in the winter months."

League Against Cruel Sports Scotland director Robbie Marsland said mountain hare culls are "part of the out-of-control intensification of grouse moor management".

However, Tim Baynes, director of the Scottish Moorland Group, said culls pose "no risk" to the wider hare population.

"Mountain hares are legally and sustainably managed when their numbers are high for a variety of reasons in the same way that other species are controlled," he said.

"Every year around 100,000 deer are shot with government direction - many more than the number of mountain hares taken even in the highest breeding years.

"Moorland managers are in regular dialogue with Government and Scottish Natural Heritage and are using new techniques to give reassurance that culling poses no risk to the population.

"Indeed, grouse moors are where mountain hares breed most successfully while their range has contracted in other parts of Scotland."

A Scottish Government spokesman said it has established an independent group to examine grouse moor management.

"The group will report back to the environment secretary in Spring 2019," a spokesman said.

"We have already made clear we will take further action if there is firm, scientific evidence of significant population declines.

"Large-scale culling cannot be justified. However, it is important to remember it may be necessary to control mountain hare numbers in specific circumstances, such as to protect native woodlands or commercial forestry."