Golden Eagle
Police have appealed for walkers in Angus for information about a poisoned golden eagle. The bird was found dead earlier this month and tests have now revealed that it was illegally poisoned. Anyone who was in the Glen Lethnot area between 10 and 25 November is asked to contact the Police.
The eagle, named Fearnan, was ringed as a chick in a nest near Loch Tay in Perthshire in June 2011 and had spent much of its life in Speyside, before moving to the Angus glens in early November. Satellite tracking equipment showed that the bird stopped moving only three weeks after arriving in Angus, and soon after its dead body was discovered. Police are now searching the area for evidence of poisoned bait.
Recently RSPB Scotland has highlighted an increase in the number of illegally killed birds of prey on land managed for driven grouse shooting. In the Angus Glens the RSPB says that another four eagles, a red kite and seven buzzards have been shot, poisoned or trapped on sporting estates in the last 5 years.
Stuart Housden, the director of RSPB Scotland, said: “Incidents such as this show very clearly why this iconic bird needs not just our recognition, but also greater protection. We sincerely hope that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice and would encourage those with information to come forward.”
“I will be asking the environment spokesperson of all the parties in the Scottish Parliament to take cross-party action to stiffen the penalties for those convicted of such offences and to look again at the regulation of sport shooting. The current state of affairs is simply unacceptable.”
PC Blair Wilkie, Wildlife Liaison Officer for the Angus area, said: ”Given the rural location of this crime, we appeal to anyone who was out walking, working, or indeed out on the hills for whatever purpose between those dates, to get in touch.
“You may not think that any information you have is of value to us, but please let us be the judges of that. It’s also important to stress to the public that in cases where poisoned baits are used to target birds of prey, the poisons present a wider threat. They are, without question, a significant health risk to both humans and animals. If you find what you suspect to be poisoned bait – do not touch it.”