This blog turns nine years old today!
We’ve come a long way, as the number of blog views approaches five million, but we’ve barely scratched the surface.
Thank you to everyone who contributes and supports this effort – it is much appreciated.
This blog turns nine years old today!
We’ve come a long way, as the number of blog views approaches five million, but we’ve barely scratched the surface.
Thank you to everyone who contributes and supports this effort – it is much appreciated.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Many congratulations on reaching this milestone. I note that the voices who were most condemning of your efforts are mainly silent now when talking about the website. Perhaps the website is becoming respectable?
From my point of view, the small efforts I am making in helping right the wrongs being committed to our wildlife would not have been possible has I not been a frequent reader of this blog. Thank you very much.
It’s the only show in town! But there’s still so much to do… A friend gave me a set of tea cards of Wild Birds in Britain, dated 1965; the entry for the Montagu’s Harrier includes the comment: “egg collectors and shooters still persecute it.” So how far have we come in the last 50 years?
I’ve shared this post onto a new Facebook page for Bowland- Natural Bowland. One of the page’s aims is to highlight the plight of the Hen Harrier in the Forest of Bowland- it is its logo after all!
Massive congratulations on your ninth anniversary! Your research is fair and meticulously detailed, providing accurate, ongoing information about the events and developments around the travesty that surrounds these iconic birds. Your efforts are making a huge difference…. Perhaps in the not too far-off future we will see an end to the slaughter in the uplands, and also to driven Grouse shooting – once and for all.
Congratulations RPUK, I have been with you for most of that time, before you I hadn’t realised just how much criminality went on in the British countryside, thanks to your efforts our wildlife has a much better chance of survival in the future.
Congratulations RPUK, thank you for opening our eyes! Keep going!
Thanks for being in existence, like all the other new organisations expressing the ethical viewpoints of a growing number of deeply concerned individuals, over the destruction of wildlife, forests, essential habitats and the threat to the oceans and climate change. In Scotland, we have had groups such as Butterfly Conservation, Buglife and Plantlife, set up offices here, with keen and hard-working young people running them. They have got involved in going into our schools to enthuse children about wildlife conservation. One-Kind has made its presence known with its street campaigns, publicising its broad interest in animal welfare and conservation, an association that has long had to be made. The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the John Muir Trust, have enlarged their images, and do a grand job providing excursions and lectures, which bring in members of the public, who would not normally get out and about to enjoy the beauty and wildlife of Scotland. The RSPB with its presence, is crucial in having a “heavy-weight” aboard, with the resources to investigate and go to court.
Raptor Persecution UK came on the scene at an important stage exposing the horrendous domination of our countryside by the powerful blood sports “caucus”, with their inordinate demand for game birds to shoot in excessive numbers, and any competing wildlife to be eliminated. That slaughter meant our Birds of Prey had to be classed as vermin, and that meant their illegal controversial slaughter. Hitherto, most people who campaigned for animal rights and conservation, were quite placid and living in a despair that no real changes were being made to redress the situation. However, muscle has entered the fray, with politicians being approached more about the conditions animals have to tolerate, and the influence shooting estates have on our police, prosecution and judicial processes. Much has to be done to get our politicians to start showing what we stand for, appearing on their List of Interests. With the planet under severe threat from climate change and over-population, there is a global need to have universal cooperation in stopping the relentless march to the midden of extinction, for all life forms.
RPUK can be seen to be diversifying, with so many other groups showing an interest in its mission. This is grand, as it means a coalescence of humane interests is taking place, and leaders emerging like Chris Pakham with that full package of concern for animal welfare and conservation. The presence of the League Against Cruel Sports and the SSPCA, with their great experience in dealing with the perverted crimes of extreme animal abuse, is essential in reminding politicians of the dangerous criminal gangs out there read to take advantage of limp police response to what they would intend. Animal Concern Scotland and Scotland for Animals, are small groups, but run by people with years of experience, with the first dealing with fish farms, and the latter with slaughter houses and blood sports. Apart from all this diversity of interests, RPUK, formerly with Scotland in its title, has brought a focul point into existence, with apt and excellent contributors, to keep on hammering home the remorseless killing of Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Ospreys and Harriers. Thanks for being there you characters who had the courage and determination to create this invaluable contribution to saving these essential and marvellous birds.
Many congratulations, it has been eyeopening to find out what goes on in the murky world of raptor persecution. It is so important to keep the publicity going. Hopefully, one day, I would hope that the site didn’t have to exist, but I fear that we are a long way off that. Keep up the excellent work that you do. Thank you.
Thanks for all the time and effort you have contributed and the many insights that arrived as a result. More power to you.
Thank you for the many tireless hours spent investigating and informing. We both hope you get your reward sooner rather than later. Paul and Melanie Fisher.
Keep up your excellent work.
Excellent
When we eventually achieve our goal of a total ban on DGS and pheasant shooting, there will be no doubt as to where RPUK will stand in the gallery of those who have helped to achieve it. You are a constant inspiration.
Happy Birthday. I hope you are having some cake to celebrate. We would be unaware of much of the wildlife crime that goes on, without your efforts to shine a light on these dark places. Well done and thank you.
For those of us who have for decades been disgusted with the irrational and ludicrous illegal killing of birds of prey, all so that other birds can be killed for fun, this site has been an absolute boon, it’s given us a collective voice. Along with Mark Avery’s blog and Chris Packman’s campaigning RPUK has punched way above its weight in embarrassing and generally taking the piss out of the estates. I’m certain that the grouse moors could fall like dominos if the pressure keeps ramping up as it has, there’ll certainly be no slacking from RPUK. So I raise a glass in thanks to you and also the day when to a large degree due to its own efforts RPUK isn’t needed anymore. Cheers!!
Congratulations and a great big thank you.
The perseverance, the diligence, the academic quality of your work is truly staggering. If there is any justice, your campaign work will be rewarded with a ban on driven grouse shooting. Good luck and thanks.
A big thank you! From myself, for giving me honest, scientific proof of the situation that exists regarding wildlife crime, and from future generations who will be the ones to really benefit from all your work. Roll on the end of the battles and winning the war!
Congratulations and thank you! I do hope you won’t need to be in existence for very much longer by keep on keeping on!