As well as those dozen dead Red Kites and four Buzzards in Ross-shire there has been a poisoned Peregrine found in southern Scotland and a Buzzard trapped in the Peak District.
What is it with some land managers in this country?
It’s spring, time to kill off some wildlife.
At least these examples have come to light and been brought to the public’s attention. How many more cases are unnoticed and unreported?
From the Scottish Land & Estates website:
Douglas McAdam, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: ““We wholeheartedly encourage our own members to respond to the police call for information and it is important the police are given every support. We are actively facilitating that.
“We do not yet know the exact circumstances of these incidents and should not speculate while the investigation continues. However, as the police have now confirmed that there is evidence of illegal poisoning in the deaths of these birds of prey, we condemn this illegal activity unreservedly. Wildlife crime of any kind will not be tolerated by the responsible majority of landowners.
“As a member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates will continue to do whatever it can to help the police and the Scottish Government, working in partnership with relevant agencies and organisations, to eradicate all incidents of wildlife crime. ”
Alex Matheson, from the Brahan Estate, which operates the Tollie Red Kites watching centre in partnership with RSPB, said: “I would like to express in the strongest possible terms our total condemnation of any form of illegal poisoning. I am an active member of Scottish Land & Estates who are working hard to stamp this sort of thing out and show that wildlife crime is just not acceptable. Brahan Estate have actively supported the reintroduction of Red Kites in this area from the beginning and we will continue to do so. Over the last five or six years we have been working in partnership with the RSPB and the volunteers and we are extremely proud of the Tollie centre and the enjoyment it gives to members of the public. An incident like this, right on our doorstep, is hugely disappointing.”
From the Scottish Gamekeepers Association website:
Scottish Gamekeepers Association Chairman Alex Hogg said: “The discovery of so many birds in one area is unprecedented and alarming. Police Scotland deserve as much help as possible as they try to deal with the situation so we continue to encourage people to help them if they know anything. The indiscriminate use of poison is unacceptable and condemned by The Scottish Gamekeepers Association.”
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (new) blog – click here.
Latest on the BBC website is 18 dead raptors, 1 more of each.
What a disgrace this country is when dealing with poison.
http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/04/09/israel-leads-the-way-using-barn-owls-and-kestrels-to-replace-rodenticides/#comment-15278