Friday 6 July 2012

Another Golden Eagle killed by the hand of man!

This `appeal` has gone out through various websites and I received it yesterday from Birdguides. It is another shocking and quite frankly disgusting example of the `scum` that inhabit this island. Although, the case in question may not be a deliberate poisoning, it shows that there are people out there prepared to break the law. As it says in the article, next time it could be a pet dog, or even a small child, these poisons really are indiscriminate and there is no place for them in a `civilised` society.

WARNING: There is a photograph of the dead Golden Eagle, in case any of you are squeamish.


"Police are appealing for information after a Golden Eagle was found dead near Morar, Lochaber in March. A post-mortem conducted by the Scottish government laboratory of Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture showed that the eagle had been poisoned with banned pesticides. A multi-agency investigation continues, involving Northern Constabulary, the National Wildlife Crime Unit and RSPB Scotland. This is the third known eagle poisoning incident in the area over the last ten years: two White-tailed Eagles were the previous victims.
Ian Thomson, Head of Investigations for RSPB Scotland, said: "Despite the hard work being done by the police and partner agencies, some individuals continue to disregard the law, and public opinion, by killing protected birds of prey. Sadly, this is just the latest in a long list of Golden Eagles found poisoned over the last few years, and that only represents those actually discovered. Who knows how many of these magnificent birds are killed but never found? We condemn the actions of those who continue to kill Scotland's birds of prey, and hope that anyone with information related to this or other wildlife crimes will step up and pass this to the police or contact Crimestopperss"
Chief Inspector Matthew Reiss, Northern Constabulary's Wildlife Crime Coordinator, said: "Wildlife tourism is an increasingly significant income generator in the highland economy, and particularly so in the West Lochaber area of the Highlands. Poisoning is indiscriminate — it could be your pet dog or even a human that could be killed simply by contact with such illegal poisons. This is a completely unacceptable and illegal practice. People who use illegal poisons are threatening the economy by killing the very wildlife that people visit the area to enjoy viewing. These visitors are contributing significant spending in the area, so crimes such as this are also threatening the jobs of people directly and indirectly reliant on the income derived from wildlife tourism."



Poisoned Golden Eagle (RSPB).

PC Charlie Everitt of the National Wildlife Crime Unit added: "The poisoning of this Golden Eagle demonstrates how indiscriminate this practice is and flies in the face of the steady work currently being undertaken by the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime. All raptor poisoning cases will continue to be fully investigated."
The eagle was fitted with a satellite transmitter in 2010 before fledging from a nest in a habitat management area created by Scottish Power Renewables beside Beinn an Tuirc windfarm on the Kintyre peninsula. Peter Robson, Ecologist at Scottish Power Renewables, said: "We were saddened and disappointed to find out that one of the Golden Eagles from Beinn an Tuirc had been poisoned. The habitat restoration project at the windfarm has been a great success, producing four healthy Golden Eagle chicks in a short period of time following a long run of barren years. The data from the tracking device was providing experts with a unique insight into the movement patterns of Golden Eagles during their early years. It is a sad loss, and a setback for all those involved in the conservation of Golden Eagles in Scotland."
Anyone with information relating to this case is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or Northern Constabulary on 01463 715555."

18 comments:

  1. Sickening and heartbreaking to see this and similar cases John. And the most sickening of all, is if the low life responsible are caught, they just get a slap on the wrist. Hardly a deterrent.
    A jail term of at least 10 years should be the norm. Animals have as much right to life on this planet as humans. In some cases, I'd argue more right to life.

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    1. Couldn`t agree with you more Keith! It sickens me to the core, we live in a supposed civilised age and this sort of thing continues to happen!
      J

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  2. I read it too John and was sickened and disgusted and last week, also via Birdguides, I read a Scottish gamekeeper had been fined £450 for trapping and starving to death a Buzzard along with a Sparrowhawk and two Chaffinches in a Larsen trap. I think any fine is inadequate as I strongly suspect in many such cases the wealthy employer is happy to pay the fine and let the gamekeeper carry on with the disgusting traps as before.

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    1. I just cannot believe that this sort of pathetic fine sends out any kind of deterrent! I suspect that what you say is true, the rich land owners just pay the fine and tell the game-keepers to carry on as normal, just don`t get caught next time! Confiscating their land might be a good punishment!
      J

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  3. I agree this is totally unacceptable and the punishments rarely fit the crime. My father would advocate chopping their hands off!

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    1. Would that stop them though Frank? It is about time that the punishments for this sort of thing were far harsher, a definite jail sentence as well as a far heftier fine!
      J

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  4. How incredibly sad...heartbreaking indeed! I hope those responsible will be caught.

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    1. An extremely sad, but far too common story Tammy. The likelihood of those responsible being caught is pretty slim and if they do, as said in the previous comments, the punishment really is not harsh enough (in my opinion).
      J

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  5. Thats quite appalling John.

    This is probably the "rogue element" (for want of another word or two that I am unable to use here) of the Game Shoot business.
    Unfortunately these exist and I don't see how they can be completely eradicated.
    It also tars every one with the same brush as many responsible Landowners that keep and produce a suitable environment for game shooting also provide excellent locations for the rest of wildlife an nature generally.

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    1. The rogue element of a lot of things tars everyone in that hobby/past time/society etc with the same brush. There are `good` people who own shooting estates, as you say and I know that these estates put an awful lot of money into the local economy. Perhaps the majority should root out the scum that do this sort of thing, surely people know who they are?!
      J

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    1. Makes me sick and very angry Ka Holly!
      J

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  7. This broke my heart John, that beautiful bird should be enjoying life and gracing the sky. I can't even print what I would like to do to the scum that did this. I hope that they are caught or at least someone gets to them so that justice is done one way or another.

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    1. I don`t think I can print what I would like to do to those that do this sort of thing Diane, but then, does that make me as bad a person as them?!
      J

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  8. Oh John, my heart has just be made sad. How inexplicable, how very cruel, and how alarming this situation must be, for all who are concerned. I do hope that the horrible perpetrators shall be found and punished soon!!!

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    1. Hi Mary, I am sorry to have made you sad by posting this. Unfortunately, this is not a rare case in the U.K., birds of prey of all species are still persecuted by a few people who seem intent on breaking the law and killing these beautiful creatures. As already said by others, if the people are caught, the punishment will be a slap on the wrist, we need to toughen up!
      J

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    1. Very sad Omi, hopefully there will be a `happy` outcome, somehow I doubt it though!
      J

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