Wildlife crime unit promised as hundreds of birds of prey shot and poisoned
HUNDREDS of birds of prey have been killed by shooting, poisoning and various manmade hazards in recent years, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has reported.
Buzzards were the most common casualty, accounting for 100 recorded deaths, but the fatalities also included kites, owls, falcons, hawks, kestrels, hen harriers, 18 white-tailed sea eagles, two golden eagles and a merlin.
A total of 338 incidents were recorded between 2007 and 2019, but Dr Barry O’Donoghue, who coordinates the recording system, said the true number was likely to be “much higher”.
Most of the deaths involved illegal acts, including 214 poisonings and 58 shootings. One bird was trapped and one died by mutilation.
There were also 57 deaths by road collision, six from striking wind turbines, one power-line collision, two fence collisions, two by nest disturbance and three by unspecified trauma.
Deaths were recorded in all counties, but Wicklow had the highest number of incidents with 57 over the period.
While an average of 16.5 illegal incidents were detected each month over the 12 years, just seven prosecutions were initiated and only four proceeded to conviction.
One is still ongoing while the others resulted in fines as low as €50 or donations to charity of €300. In one case involving several defendants, fines of €600, €700 and €7,500 were imposed.
Pádraic Fogarty, of the Irish Wildlife Trust, described the fines in general as “pathetic” and no deterrent to wildlife crime.
Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan has promised to set up a dedicated wildlife crime unit within the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
He said the incident in the past year where 23 buzzards were poisoned in west Cork had been an “eye-opener”.
“These incidents, particularly the deliberate persecution of our native raptors, are an abhorrence to us all and should be condemned.”
Mr O’Donoghue said the birds were important indicators of the health of the countryside and ecosystems and he praised the public for helping to highlight the attacks by reporting the deaths.