Today the Scottish government has published its latest report on animal poisoning in Scotland. The figures relate to recorded incidents in 2010 and demonstrate a sharp rise in the number of wildlife poisonings, including the widespread illegal poisoning of raptors. The report shows that 69% of all ‘abuse’ cases involved the poisoning of birds of prey, covering a wide area including Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Highland, Lothian, Strathclyde and Tayside. The illegal pesticide Carbofuran was detected in half of these incidents. The raptors that tested positive for poisons included 40 buzzards, 4 golden eagles, 1 sea eagle, 1 kestrel, 5 barn owls, 2 tawny owls, 2 peregrines, 21 red kites and 11 sparrowhawks.
Unsurprisingly, some are trying to play down the appalling statistics. The Scottish Land and Estates Chairman, Luke Borwick, is reported to have said that the organisation is working hard to reduce such incidents “…and there is evidence these joint efforts are beginning to pay off“. He was referring to what he called a “significant decrease” (in illegal raptor poisonings) in the first half of 2011. The Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson also made the same comment. Unfortunately, we are not able to make the assessment for ourselves because the published government figures for 2011 only cover the period January to March 2011. However, the figures for this three-month period tell a very different story to the one that Luke and Stewart are pushing: they include 3 buzzards, 1 golden eagle, 1 red kite and 2 peregrines all illegally poisoned in the first three months of 2011 (see here for earlier report). Hmmm.
There are other reactions from various bodies, including the RSPB, the Police and the Scottish Environment Minister – these can be read on the BBC website here and the Scottish government website here.
To read the depressing SASA government report with all the gory details, click here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Can anyone please enlighten me about what these landowners are doing exactly, to stop illegal raptor persecution? Borwick mentions it, so does Stevenson and so does the RSPB. The only thing I’ve read is them demanding licences to make the killing of birds of prey a legal past-time. Hoping someone out there can tell what else they’re doing (stress the word ‘doing’ – not interested in what they’re ‘saying’)! Thanks.
Quote: “The Scottish Land and Estates Chairman, Luke Borwick, is reported to have said that the organisation is working hard to reduce such incidents “…and there is evidence these joint efforts are beginning to pay off”
Thank goodness, it’s beginning to pay off then, I dread to think what the figures would have been like otherwise ? It’s a real pity they don’t show the true figures regarding the extent of Raptor poisonings, it would really begin to show the true evidence of paying off if they had.
What a total disgrace that these land owning so-called stalwarts of British society think it’s their given right to exterminate our beautifull and protected Raptors, it’s about time the law sat up, slapped itself a couple of times, (OK, several times then) and then got stuck in to bringing these blatant criminals to justice, wait a minute though, don’t these blatant criminals control the law ???
nirofo.
“I regard it as a national disgrace that illegal persecution is still taking place and the Government will continue to take all steps within its power to reduce and elimininate it.”
A quote from Lord Sewell, Minister for Agriculture, The Environment and Fisheries in the Forward to Counting the Cost produced by the Scottish Office.
The date was August 1998!
So how can Luke Borthwick, The Scottish Land and Estate Chair say that, “This requires a sustained approach over time ….”
Just how long do we have to wait for a change in behaviour from “our guardians of the countryside.”
Raptor Persecution has to stop now. The full force of the law needs to be brought to bear to bring those responsible to justice.
We hear that levels of raptor persecution for 2011 have to date been low compared to previous years. To the public this may sound hopeful, that at last those that are committing these crimes are beginning to mend their ways. However, anybody who has an understanding of this issue and some insight into those criminals that carry out such killings will be a little sceptic and understandably too. I believe that there are raptors out there now, that have been shot or poisoned in the last few weeks, stuffed into rabbit holes, secreted away into dry stone walls or buried in shallow graves within woodlands. Many of the raptors that have been discovered in the past have been by chance, often found by ramblers or locals out walking the hills. These are accidental finds and can only be seen as a small representation of the real number of birds of prey that lay undiscovered. The discovery of raptors in Scotland this year may well so far be low, but I do not believe for one moment that the killing of raptors has decreased, they simply just haven’t been found. Call me a sceptic on this, but unfortunately evidence in the past would suggest that I am a realist. I wish I were wrong, but I know I am not and that makes me sad.
However, we all continue to do our bit and anybody who has a true respect for British wildlife will agree that those that are found to be illegally killing birds of prey must continue to be exposed, shamed and pressure put on Government to bring the full force of the law down on them and to send out the message that these crimes against these magnificent birds will not be tolerated and that the perpetrator or, if they work for an estate, the estate will be severely punished.
PS. Thank you to all those people who have sponsored my skydive to raise money for investigations at the animal charity OneKind (formally ‘Advocates for Animals’) and to raise awareness of raptor persecution. The weather is beginning to be more of a challenge than the actual jump with weather stopping play for the second time the other week. However, I will have another go in September and so anybody interested in supporting me and my work (all sponsorship goes directly to investigations) then please follow the link. Many thanks. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=SteveSkyDives