At the end of March the RSPB issued a press statement about a shot red kite that had been found on a Durham grouse moor (see here).
An x-ray revealed multiple shotgun pellets in the kite’s body, resulting in a fractured wing. The kite was described as ‘fighting for its life’.
After several weeks of expert care and attention by the brilliant Jean Thorpe (Ryedale Wildlife Rescue) and her equally as brilliant colleagues at Battle Flatts Veterinary Clinic, today the red kite was successfully released back to the wild.
The RSPB has released this short video on Twitter:
Durham Constabulary is still appealing for information about the shooting of this kite.
If you have any information, contact Durham Constabulary’s Wildlife Crime Officer, PC Dave Williamson, by emailing david.williamson@durham.police.uk or calling in to Barnard Castle Police Station.
Alternatively, to share sensitive information in confidence, call the RSPB’s Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Excellent news! 👍
Brilliant news. Well done Jean and vets involved
Makes a change to hear good news
Another Gold Star for JT and Battle Flatts vets.
Great work from everyone helping this bird. But I hope it wasn’t released back to the shooting location!
Edmondbyers us a Very Small quiet village. Everyone in the village would have heard the shot. Would also have a fair idea who fired it.
Did bobbies question the most likely person to have enmity towards the kite? Such as a …..gamekeeper.
Means motive opportunity.
Not cape canaveral. Izzit.
So many of our protected birds of prey are being killed still, strangely all near or on shooting grounds.
Perhaps it’s time to stop this barbarian sport of killing birds for fun as they don’t seem to be able to differentiate between game birds, and any other bird with wings.
I am glad this kite lives on, but suspect its days are still numbered if it happens to stray near the shooting industry again.
Ramblers and hill walkers have to be encouraged to get into these grouse moors when they are shooting.
At last some good news
So very pleased to read this. Excellent care for a beautiful bird.
Well done all involved. Thank You.
Great to have some good news for a change. It brought tears to my eyes seeing the video of this bird flying off.
Well done everyone.
Great news and isn’t now way beyond time that shooting of any creature for so called sport should be banned ?
So happy about this, its about time the landowners were prosecuted as well as gamekeepers I’m sick of the upper class and little Ratbags getting away with this despicable crime
Well done all those who helped! Jean is formidable she’s also been involved in tackling badger baiters.