Battling to bring golden eagles back to Ireland

Published on Tuesday 12 August 2008 22:08

The Golden Eagle Trust, managing the reintroduction of Scottish golden eagle donor stock into Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal, alongside the National Parks and Wildlife Service, refutes the claim by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association that golden eagles in Ireland are being routinely persecuted (your report, 7 August).

The Donegal golden eagle project enjoys the full support of the Donegal farming community and representative bodies, the local and national gun clubs, the important local tourism sector and the wider general public.

In 2007, an Irish golden eagle chick fledged in the Republic of Ireland for the first time in almost 100 years. The adult female was collected from Assynt, Sutherland, in 2001 and the adult male was collected from Skye in 2002. Five of the 50 Scottish birds released over the past seven years have been found dead and all are believed to have died from natural causes.

In past decades, many of us in Ireland looked on in envy as Scotland enhanced its native biodiversity with assistance from Norway, Sweden and Germany in providing white-tailed eagle and red kite donor stock. Now the Golden Eagle Trust and numerous Irish people and commentators are grateful to Scottish estate landowners, gamekeepers and deer stalkers who have, since 2001, facilitated the first Irish reintroduction programme. We appreciate the ongoing support and licence approval from Scottish ministers and Scottish Natural Heritage.

As a country, Ireland now recognises and regrets our past mistake of driving golden eagles and other native birds to extinction. We hope and believe the majority of Scottish people will continue to support efforts to see golden eagles restored beyond their current restricted range in Scotland.

LORCAN O TOOLE

Golden Eagle Trust

Glenveagh National Park

County Donegal, Ireland