Poison kills 25 raptors on estate

• 25 birds of prey are found dead in Peeblesshire as poisoning cases rise

• Gamekeepers suspect raptors of taking game birds as prey

• All birds of prey are protected by law.

Key quote: "In my 20 years of investigating wildlife crime this is the largest number of dead birds I have seen in a single case." Dave Dick, RSPB Scotland.

Story in full: ONE of Scotland’s premier sporting estates is at the centre of a major wildlife crime investigation, after the carcases of 25 protected birds and a number of suspected poisoned baits were found.

In a joint operation, investigators from RSPB Scotland, accompanied by police officers, concentrated their search on an area of open countryside in Peeblesshire’s Manor Valley.

The investigation scene near Peebles is part of the vast Wemyss & March Estates, and the raid was staged following a tip-off from a member of the public.

It yielded the remains of 22 buzzards, a tawny owl, a goshawk and a heron, the largest number of dead birds recovered by wildlife protection teams in Scotland during the course of a single search.

According to one member of the raiding party, the scene that greeted them was "like a massacre", with the corpses of a number of unprotected crows lying close to the birds of prey.

The goshawk is one of Scotland’s most endangered species, with only about 100 surviving breeding pairs. That makes it even more of a rarity than the osprey, which recently re-established itself in southern Scotland after a gap of 50 years.

The birds were found within half a mile of each other, and it is believed all 25 of the protected species perished within the last three weeks.

It is the latest in a series of incidents that have shocked and angered conservationists as the toll of protected species from suspected poisoning continues to rise.

As inquiries went on yesterday, there was condemnation, too, from Alex Hogg, the chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association (SGA), who said he was sickened by the latest allegation of wildlife crime.

The dead raptors have been sent for post-mortem examination, and the results should be known within a week or two. A number of other items, including suspected poisons, were seized during the raid.

Dave Dick, of RSPB Scotland, said: "In my 20 years of investigating wildlife crime this is the largest number of dead birds I have seen in a single case.

"It is utterly disgusting that our wildlife is still being wantonly and indiscriminately persecuted."

Mr Dick has also recently been on Tayside to start investigating the deaths of five more protected birds.

Last month, it was disclosed that five barn owls, two buzzards, a kestrel and a tawny owl had died on Raeshaw Estate, near Heriot, Midlothian, where suspected poisons were also seized by investigators.

"It has been suggested to me that this latest report from the Borders was made as a direct result of the publicity surrounding the Raeshaw case," said Mr Dick.

"But the problem is a very large one even though certain people try to talk it down."

He was in no doubt that research and analysis had proved the illegal killing of protected birds of prey was usually linked to sporting estates.

Mr Dick said: "The buzzard population in this particular area has recovered tremendously over the last ten to 15 years, thanks largely to the number of rabbits available.

"We have reason to believe buzzards are being targeted because they are perceived to be taking game birds.

"But some Scottish estates believe that to be a misconception."

He warned that the chemicals used in many cases were extremely toxic and as lethal as strychnine.

The Borders was about to get a red kite population, and those introduced birds too would be in danger if poisoning activity continued.

Constable Mark Rafferty, wildlife liaison officer with Lothian and Borders Police, said the events in Peebleshire were appalling and highlighted how dangerous poisoning could be. "Members of the public, their dogs and the countryside’s wildlife were all put at risk by this criminal activity," said Mr Rafferty.

Mr Hogg said: "I am thoroughly sickened by this news. It is absolutely unbelievable and I am in total shock. The SGA is furious that there appears to be another incident of wildlife crime on this scale.

"We are fighting extremely hard for a sustainable balance in the countryside, and have made it absolutely clear to our members that anyone found guilty of perpetrating these acts of serious wildlife crime will be expelled from our organisation immediately."

Mr Hogg said the gamekeepers’ association had preached at great length to its members about acceptable protocols and conduct, adding: "We felt we were getting on top of the problem, then something like this hits the headlines. It is extremely sad news."

Wemyss & March Estates was not available for comment yesterday.