Largest cache of poisoned bait discovery fuels birds of prey concerns

Published on Sunday 27 January 2008 21:24

THE largest-ever cluster of poisoned bait for the killing of birds of prey has been found in the Borders.

Six buzzards were among the birds killed after 25 carcases of rabbits and hares were laced with the banned substance carbofuran.

The carcases were found within one square mile of countryside near Greenlaw, Berwickshire on five occasions between March and September last year.

Police were first alerted by a member of the public in March last year. However, it is understood that progress on the investigation has been slow because the baits were found over a number of bordering private estates.

Bird experts last night said that this was the biggest number of poisoned baits recovered from one particular location in Scotland and said the find underlined the importance of getting to grips with the growing poisoning problem.

A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said: "This staggering level of illegal activity goes to show that poisoning is, sadly, still considered par for the course by some people in Scotland.

"Far from being on the wane, the last two years have seen some of the highest levels of such crimes being detected.

"We urge anyone with information relating to these crimes to contact the police, and look forward to hearing the results of police investigations."

Samples from the carcases were sent to the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, an Edinburgh-based government agency, where scientists confirmed that they had been laced with carbofuran.

Two crows and a magpie were also found to have been poisoned after eating the bait.

Doreen Graham, a spokeswoman for the Scottish Society for the Protection of Animals, said: "Twenty-five poisoned baits were found, but how many other baits have killed? (As] wildlife frequently hides away to die, there are possibly many other victims that have never been found.

"Carbofuran is an illegal substance and we believe the only people who still have access to quantities of the substance are well aware that they are breaking the law. The Scottish Borders is rich in wildlife, but how many more golden eagles, red kites or – because poison is indiscriminate – family pets, have to die?"

RSPB figures show that 2006 was the worst year in 25 years for the poisoning of birds of prey.

The overall figure more than doubled from 19 to 45 in a year.

The charity believes that the official figures are merely the "tip of the iceberg" regarding the true level of wildlife persecution around the country.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said: "There have been a number of searches in the area during the year. These incidents are taken very seriously and we would welcome any information on the matter."

Wildlife groups' anger as shooters found hunting down wild boar on private estates

ANIMAL rights campaigners claimed yesterday that wild boar hunts were being held on private estates in Scotland.

Shooters armed with high-calibre rifles and accompanied by dogs were spotted hunting for the boar by protesters on an estate in Dumfries and Galloway.

It is thought at least two hunts have taken place so far at unnamed locations in Scotland, with the carcases of 51 wild boar, weighing up to 25 stone, being sold off for meat.

A spokeswoman for wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation said the hunts would cause "confusion and panic" in the boars.

She said: "It is inhumane to treat wild or farm animals in this fashion."

Wild boar became extinct in Britain about 300 years ago, but the numbers have begun creeping up in recent years. Colonies of the boar can now be found from the south-east of England to the Scottish Borders, and the total number is estimated to be in the low hundreds.

A spokesman for the League Against Cruel Sports said: "It beggars belief that people actually get pleasure out of the mass slaughter of animals.

"Anyone participating in this kind of institutionalised killing has to be sick."

The protesters claim that dogs and handlers are sent into the estate to track down the animals and herd them close to 4ft-high platforms, where the shooters lie in wait.

David Corner, who organised the hunt discovered by the protesters in Dumfries and Galloway, said they got shooters from all walks of life, many of whom were looking for a bigger thrill than shooting pheasant.

He said: "We used about half a dozen beaters and between six and 12 dogs.

"One of the terriers seemed to take an instant dislike to wild boar and was practically hanging off the tail of one of them.

"One chap shot ten of them and said he could have had 30 more. We have all sorts of people taking part, from car mechanics and builders to multi-millionaires. They are bored with pheasant shooting and are looking for something different."

The boars are not indigenous, so it is not illegal for landowners to shoot them on their own property.

The Scotsman is committed to helping the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals catch those responsible for killing birds of prey and other wildlife.

Information about raptor poisonings and other incidents of wildlife crime can be passed to police via the National Wildlife Crime Unit in North Berwick on 01620 893607.

RHIANNON EDWARD