Anger at rise in bird of prey poisonings

Published on Tuesday 16 March 2010 14:28

THE number of birds of prey being killed by poison has returned to previously high figures, according to figures released today.

• A Golden Eagle

Golden eagles and buzzards were among the 27 birds killed in 22 recorded poisoning incidents in 2009.

The death toll marks a return to levels of 2007 after a drop in 2008 to 16 poisoned birds of prey.

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "These figures are a wake-up call to those who thought bird poisonings were on the wane."

She was speaking at the launch of a new map of wildlife crime "hot spots" published today by Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (Paw) near Edinburgh.

The dead birds included 19 buzzards, four red kites, two golden eagles, one tawny owl and one sea eagle.

Tayside Police recorded the highest number of incidents, with nine confirmed poisonings.

Paw's map showed the distribution of poisonings across Scotland with cumulative totals over five years.

The highest concentrations since 2005 were in central southern Scotland, the south east and parts of the eastern Highlands.

Carbofuran, an illegal chemical, was used in the majority of cases, which the Scottish Government said poses a threat to humans.

Ms Cunningham said: "This continued persecution of our precious wildlife is simply incomprehensible.

"Poisoning is an arbitrary method of killing which poses serious risks to other animals, and potentially people, in our countryside.

"The protection of Scotland's wildlife has never before occupied such a prominent position politically or in terms of the law.

"I am hugely grateful to those partners working together to tackle these appalling crimes and I hope that our joint efforts will result in

a safer environment for our birds of prey."

Duncan Orr-Ewing, head of species and land management for RSPB Scotland, said: "The number of illegal poisoning incidents discovered in 2009 is one of the highest on record.

"Experience tells us that this represents just a fraction of the true scale of this illegal activity, which persists with shocking regularity in some areas of Scotland.

"There is now ample evidence to demonstrate the significant impact of this on the populations of some of Scotland's most iconic species, including the golden eagle.

"It is the selfish actions of a minority that damage the standing of the shooting industry.

"We ask the authorities to deploy the full range of sanctions against the perpetrators of this indiscriminate activity and to send a clear message that this will not be tolerated in the Scottish countryside of the 21st century."