Two days ago I wrote about a buzzard that had been shot and critically injured in the North York Moors National Park – the latest in a long line of victims in that grouse moor-dominated landscape (see here).
As ever, it was left to wildlife rehabilitator Jean Thorpe and veterinary experts at Battle Flatts Veterinary Clinic to pick up the pieces and attempt to save its life.
Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the buzzard didn’t make it. Jean posted the following poignant message on social media yesterday:
Raptor Persecution UK 
That’s such sad news :(
The poor thing. The bodies are piling high, with precious little being done to bring the vile criminals of these vile acts to justice. But where there isn’t the will….
Even when there is the will it is almost impossible to find a culprit unless closely witnessed and under those circumstances even the dimmest of raptor haters knows not to shoot it. Under UK law despite differences in the process in various places we are all innocent until proved guilty and evidence is needed to prove otherwise, sadly but necessarily this sometimes protects the guilty as well as the innocent.
Gun crime involving wildlife is not included in gun crime statistics. That is not right. It has dramatic effects on how the Police view wildlife crime. Write to your MPs.
I would write to my MP but unfortunately I have never had a reply about any subject I’ve bought to his attention which indicates he is interested in my view nor ever deviated from the party line. His name is Rob Roberts
If you frame it as a question they are honour bound to answer or get the appropriate minister to answer them which is then forwarded to you.
If dealing with recalcitrant MPs (those who ignore certain subjects from their constituents) I make sure I copy the letter to the local press (and make sure they know it is being copied to the press).
It offers you the opportunity of following up in the local press with news of the MP’s (lack of?) response to your letter.
The local press may include newspapers and local radio/TV stations.
If they all ignore you, then you have a problem. But if they do not, it opens up a debate – sometimes to the detriment of the MP in question. It can become more potent the nearer you are to an election.
Embarrass them… most people do not like wildlife being ill-treated.
Absolute prize bastards! Well done JT and Co. You did your best.
Such a shame, more needs to be done to protect our wildlife. I hope the pathetic idiot who shot buzzard suffers.
So very sad. How do we get this stuff out to the wider public? How do we get the media more interested in engaging the public who, I’m sure, would be outraged at the scale of this slaughter? Do we need a Strictly or MasterChef winner to kick up a stink to reach those who are unaware? I just don’t know why it’s still happening. Well, I do but it’s absurd.
I’m a journalist in north Yorkshire ooking into this issue. If anyone on this thread would like to talk to me in confidence about the shootings – on the moors and in the dales areas – I’d very much welcome that – contact via the website. All the best, Sarah
Such sad upsetting news what a poignant piece well said Jean and a big thankyou for trying to save the bird . These perpetrators know who they are, it needs to be stopped and it needs to be taken seriously by police and government.