Further to the news yesterday (here) that three White-tailed Eagles have ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances, one in England, one in Wales and one in Scotland, Police Scotland has issued a separate public appeal for information which includes a bit more detail about the Scottish case:
Police Scotland are appealing for information after a satellite-tagged white-tailed eagle disappeared in the vicinity of the Moorfoot hills.
The bird was four years old and had been translocated as a chick from Scotland to the Isle of White as part of a licenced reintroduction programme run by the Roy Dennis Foundation.
In March 2025 the bird flew back to Scotland and held a territory in the Moorfoot Hills spending most of its time in the hills between Peebles and Heriot.
In early November it expanded its range and spent the majority of its time on the lower ground to the North of the Moorfoots by Gladhouse Reservoir but after four days its satellite tag then suddenly stopped working in circumstances that give rise to suspicion.
A full search of the area where the tag last transmitted and the areas it had been frequenting has been carried out by Police Scotland Wildlife Crime officers accompanied by colleagues from the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit and a bird ecology expert however neither the bird nor the satellite tag have been recovered.
Police Constable Ali Whitby, Wildlife Crime Officer for the Lothian and Scottish Borders division said:
“This is a huge iconic bird of prey that chose to fly hundreds of miles north and settle in the Moorfoot Hills. Being so big its presence was known to people working and living in the area and it thrived for 8 months; the fact it has now gone missing in suspicious circumstances is extremely disappointing.
“I would urge anyone with any information that may assist to contact us.”
Anyone with any information should call 101, quoting reference number PS-20251215-1347. Alternatively, please contact Crimestoppers though 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
isle of WIGHT?
“isle of WIGHT?”
Is that a question… or shock at a spelling mistake?
This is devastating news. Such beautiful birds. So sad.
Wonder how long it will take for the exact location the tracker stopped working to emerge…
“Scottish Land & Estates backed the call for information over the bird’s disappearance.
Ross Ewing, director of moorland and strategic projects, said: “We understand that land managers in Moorfoots have been helping police with the search and will continue to provide whatever help they can as the investigation progresses.”
This statement probably narrows down the area of disappearance. “Land managers” aka Gamekeepers helping to search…only going to assist if it’s on land they cover. This to me suggests the location is on or near an infamous estate in the Moorfoots…
No smoke without fire as they say.
Isnt it always. Sickening. The sooner all live shooting is banned the better for everyone.
I totally agree,let’s stop messing about and just ban the killing of thousands of game birds that fill our country side with unnatural numbers of pheasants which are shot but not used for food.The burning off of heather and the monoculture that driven grouse moors produce.Very few trees and a patchwork of burnt land ,for who ? A small number of very rich people
why is the government still not acting on this terrible crime. Again some one will get away with it
If indeed it is applicable , more evidence of the Human disgRACE
pity the tags don’t have a miniature camera with live streaming, that would identify the issue, and the perp if applicable!
“pity the tags don’t have a miniature camera with live streaming, that would identify the issue, and the perp if applicable!”
The issues would be size and weight. The data generated by live streaming would also require more battery power.
If shot while overnight roosting – no light:-( If shot from below – no direct image:-( If poisoned from a laced carcass – no culprit:-(
I’m afraid that our politicians think this is such a trivial issue that they do not even have to be officially recorded:-(
“This report examines… concerns that most wildlife crimes are not recordable despite being amongst agreed national crime priorities.”
“Most wildlife crimes in England and Wales are not centrally recorded (unlike in Scotland, where all wildlife crimes are recorded), a practice that is considered unhelpful for determining crime trends, levels of criminality in police force areas, and in setting strategies and priorities.”
https://www.wcl.org.uk/docs/Link_Recording_Wildlife_Crime_in_England%20_and%20_Wales_full_November_2017.pdf
https://wcl.org.uk/docs/2024/WCL_Wildlife_Crime_2023_Final.pdf
“Genuine wildlife crime is not covered by the Animals Act 2006, therefore, the lack of notifiable status (recordable crime) makes wildlife offences non-recordable“
“Certain elements of legislation from the acts below where wildlife crime is covered but not notifiable includes: (this list is by no means exhaustive)
Deer Act 1991
Hunting Act 2004
Protection of Badgers Act 1992
Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981″
All from: https://www.college.police.uk/support-forces/practices/naturewatch-wildlife-crime-and-animal-welfare-workshop
We pass wildlife laws, but we don’t really care about upholding them:-(