The trial of prominent falconer and eagle breeder Andrew Knowles-Brown from Elvanfoot, Scotland continued at Lanark Sheriff Court last week where leading international avian vet Neil Forbes DipECZM(Avian), FRCVS was called as an expert witness for the prosecution.
This is the second trial Knowles-Brown has faced – in February 2023 he was cleared of all charges at Lanark Sheriff Court in relation to the alleged mistreatment of ten imported White-bellied sea eagles at the Scottish Eagle Centre (see here).
The current trial is separate to the first one and is concerned with alleged welfare offences relating to 90 eagles kept at Knowles-Brown’s breeding facility in Scotland. Knowles-Brown has denied all the charges.
Knowles-Brown is a prominent figure in the falconry world, having served as the Chair of the Scottish Hawk Board and Vice-Chair of the UK Hawk Board. The Hawk Board, which includes a representative from the Countryside Alliance, represents falconers, hawk-keepers and falconry clubs and provides welfare guidelines for those keeping raptors in captivity. It also engages in political lobbying (e.g. it was against the Scottish Government’s decision to afford the Mountain Hare full legal protection) and Knowles-Brown himself has provided evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee when it was considering its draft Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill.
This second trial began last summer (see here) and looks set to continue for some time. The next expert witness for the prosecution is due in court on 27 February 2024.
Please note: as the case is still live, comments won’t be accepted on this blog until proceedings have concluded. Thanks for your understanding.
UPDATE 15 October 2024: Prominent falconer & eagle breeder Andrew Knowles-Brown guilty of welfare offences relating to approx 90 eagles in Scotland (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 