RSPB petition Holyrood for more action on bird of prey killings

Published on Monday 1 March 2010 21:54

A PETITION signed by almost 22,000 people calling for tougher action against illegal killing of birds of prey will be handed to the Scottish Parliament today.

RSPB Scotland, who organised the petition, believes not enough has been done to tackle wildlife crime despite pledges being made by the Scottish Government nearly two years ago.

The organisation have called for these pledges, including the appointment of a specialist wildlife crime officer by every police force in Scotland, to be implemented.

RSPB Scotland director Stuart Housden will present the document, signed by 21,962 people, to Frank McAveety, the convener of the public petitions committee, at a special gathering outside the Scottish Parliament.

At the same time, supporters will form a giant mosaic of a peregrine falcon, the world's fastest bird, to show their backing for the campaign.

Mr Housden said: "Since June 2008 RSPB Scotland has been collecting pledges from the thousands of people horrified by the unnecessary deaths of iconic birds such as the golden eagle, red kite and hen harrier.

"The huge response we have had just shows that many, many people in Scotland, like us, are rightly appalled that birds of prey continue to be illegally killed in our countryside."

During the past decade at least 300 birds of prey have been illegally poisoned, and another 100 others killed by shooting, trapping or nest destruction.

The white-tailed sea eagle has previously been wiped out in Scotland due to persecution. Over the past few decades the huge bird of prey has been brought back through a reintroduction programme.

RSPB Scotland is also calling for more effort to be put into investigating wildlife crimes, and for greater recognition of the benefits to the economy brought by birds of prey to Scotland.