Author: RaptorPersecutionUK

Reward offered to catch Motherwell peregrine poisoner

Two concerned members of the public have offered a £1,000 reward for information leading to a prosecution in the Motherwell peregrine poisoning incident that took place in February.

Two peregrines were killed after being poisoned with the highly toxic (and illegal) chemical strychnine, and their bodies were discovered just yards from a primary school in Motherwell. See blog post 16 March 2011 for details.

The Scottish SPCA, leading the investigation, have been unable to trace the person responsible, and it is hoped the reward will now act as an incentive for someone to come forward with new information.

SSPCA press release: http://www.scottishspca.org/news/588_reward-for-falcon-poisonings

Thanks to the contributor in France who sent us this link.

Latest on Inverinate Estate case

Another case adjournment….

Gamekeeper Andrew Malcom Slaughter from Inverinate Estate, Lochalsh, is facing charges under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948. He did not attend his court hearing yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court and he did not enter a plea. His case has been adjourned until 28 April 2011, back at Inverness Sheriff Court.

See blog entry 23 March 2011 for background to this case.

Latest on Moy Estate case

Surprise surprise! The Moy Estate case has been adjourned for a second time. Gamekeepers Wayne Grant and James Roderick Rolfe, facing charges under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, did not attend the court hearing yesterday at Inverness Sheriff Court, and no plea was entered. Their case has been adjourned until 5 May 2011, again at Inverness Sheriff Court.

For background reading to this case, see blog posts 3 June 2010, 4 June 2010 and 23 March 2011.

Update on yesterday’s police raid

Tayside Police have released a statement about the raid on a Scottish sporting estate that took place yesterday, following the discovery three weeks ago of two poisoned buzzards and poisoned bait. A 62 year old man was taken in for questioning but has been released pending further enquiries.

Tayside Police statement: http://www.tayside.police.uk/default.aspx.locid-013new0k6.Lang-EN.htm

Police raid well-known Scottish sporting estate – one man questioned

Police have raided a well-known sporting estate in Scotland and at least one man has been questioned at the police station. Further details cannot be reported just now but will be publicised in due course. Let’s just say this estate is no stranger to allegations of raptor persecution…let’s hope justice is finally served.

Full credit to the police for this one.

Poisoned baits found in Ayrshire: dogs and buzzards reported poisoned

A recent spate of poisoning has been reported at Fullarton Woods, Troon, Ayrshire over the last month, apparently resulting in the death of one dog, one fox and possibly two buzzards. A second dog was poisoned but survived. Strathclyde Police are reported to have launched an investigation.

The first incident was reported in the Troon Times on 1 March 2011 and the Ayrshire Birding Forum on 2 March 2011. Rabbit baits laced with poison were discovered in Fullarton Woods on the Fullarton Estate (this is not a sporting estate – it is a public amenity run by South Ayrshire Council that includes a play-park for children). A local resident’s dog was poisoned but made a recovery. Two dead buzzards were apparently discovered, although it has not been confirmed if they had been poisoned.

Troon Times: http://www.troontimes.com/news/troon/articles/2011/03/01/410725-beware-poisoned-carcasses-left-in-troon-woods/

Ayrshire Birding Forum: http://www.ayrshire-birding.org.uk/

On 22 March 2011, Troon Times reported the death of a two-year old golden retriever and linked it to the discovery of a poisoned fox in Fullarton Woods: http://www.troontimes.com/news/troon/articles/2011/03/22/411384-more-animals-poisoned-in-woods/

Holkham Estate head gamekeeper’s court case adjourned again

Further to blog posts 25 January, 11 February and 2 March 2011….

Nicholas Parker, head gamekeeper at Holkham Estate, Norfolk, was due at Norwich Magistrate’s Court today relating to charges against him for alleged wildlife crime and firearms offences. His case has been adjourned for the third time and is now due to be heard on 4 May 2011.

This case was originally due to be heard at King’s Lynn Magistrate’s Court on 9 February 2011. This was delayed until 2 March 2011. The case was then moved to Norwich Magistrate’s Court, due to be heard 1 April 2011.

Five separate poisoning incidents unreported at end of 2010

Earlier this month, PAW Scotland released the ‘2010 poisoning hotspots’ maps as part of their annual reporting. Along with the maps, they released a report called ‘Bird of Prey Poisoning Incidents 2006 to 2010 – Incident Details’. Here is a PDF of that report: 0114784

The name is a bit of a misnomer, as the ‘incident details’ are about as vague as you can get. However, the report does have its uses. There appear to be five separate poisoning incidents that took place between October and December 2010 that were not apparently reported/publicised in the press; three incidents in Tayside and one each in Lothian & Borders and Strathclyde. An internet search has failed to locate any information about these cases. Why do you think Tayside Police, Lothian Police, Strathclyde Police, and the RSPB (if they were involved in the investigation) were so quiet about these incidents?

Ref 10192: 1 buzzard poisoned by carbofuran, 2 pigeon baits. Oct 2010, Tayside.

Ref 10196: 2 buzzards poisoned by carbofuran isofenphos. Oct 2010, Tayside.

Ref: 10204: 1 buzzard poisoned by carbofuran. Nov 2010, Lothian & Borders.

Ref 10206: 1 buzzard poisoned by carbofuran, 1 pheasant bait. Nov 2010, Strathclyde.

Ref 10225: 1 red kite poisoned by chloralose. Dec 2010, Tayside.

Update on Moy Estate case

Following our blog posts on 3 June 2010 and 4 June 2010…….

According to an article published in the Press & Journal last week, two men will appear at Inverness Sheriff Court next month to face charges following the police raid on Moy Estate last June.

Gamekeepers James Rolfe (now 20), of The Gate Lodge, Moy, and Wayne Grant (now 32), of Limetree Cottage, Moy, are charged with offences under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Rolfe is accused of possessing a dead red kite at the Gate Lodge, Moy, on June 3 2010, while Grant is charged with having 56 black-headed gull eggs in an out-building at his home on the same date.

The case was called at Inverness Sheriff Court last week but neither defendant was at the hearing. Fiscal depute Karen Smith said that lawyers for the two men had asked for the case to be continued without plea. The case was adjourned until 7 April 2011.

Thank you to the contributor who sent us a copy of this newspaper article. We have been unable to find an on-line link.

Gamekeeper charged with wildlife crime offences on Inverinate Estate

The case against a gamekeeper accused of wildlife crime offences began at Inverness Sheriff Court last week. Andrew Slaughter, 34, of Faddock, Killialan, Kyle, faces two charges under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 in connection with setting a spring trap at Glen Elchaig on Inverinate Estate on 22 September 2010.

He also faces a charge under the Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 that he failed to ensure that a crow which was caught in a trap was “provided with adequate shelter and protection from adverse weather”. A fourth charge states that he “set a spring trap which was capable of catching birds, pine martins, badgers and otters”, contrary to the Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948.

Slaughter, who did not appear in court, had his case continued without plea until 7 April 2011.

Thank you to the contributor who sent us a copy of the newspaper report about this article (published in Press & Journal, 18 March 2011). We could not find an on-line link to this article.

Inverinate Estate, close to the Isle of Skye, is believed to be owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al-Maktoum, crown prince and ruler of Dubai. He is thought to have bought the 63,000 acre estate for £2 million 25 years ago. The Sheikh, worth an estimated £12 billion, is believed to visit the estate with his family for a few weeks every year in the summer.