TALON HUNT
Tagged golden bird of prey killed near grouse moors - the 12th in seven years
CONSERVATIONISTS believe rogue gamekeepers are ruthlessly culling golden eagles after a tagged young bird disappeared.
The two-year-old raptor is the 12th eagle to vanish over a “black hole” near the Northern Monadhliath mountains in Inverness-shire in seven years.
And it has raised fears that the birds – tagged as part of a scheme to preserve the species – are being systematically targeted.
Conservationists believe gamekeepers armed with shotguns and infra-red trackers are locating the young birds at roosting sites before blasting them to death and disposing of the bodies.
In February, a young golden eagle called Fred vanished from his territory close to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
He is believed to have been shot while roosting in trees next to a field before being driven up the motorway and dumped in the sea off St Andrews – where his electronic tag gave off its final signal.
Police are investigating the disappearance of both of birds.
Duncan Orr-Ewing, the head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, said: “Despite very recent and high-level public warnings from the Scottish Government, it appears that criminals intent on killing golden eagles continue to target these magnificent birds, especially in areas managed for driven grouse shooting. “Patience with self-regulation is at an end and meaningful deterrents are now urgently required. We support the introduction of new measures to license driven grouse shooting, including powers for the public authorities to remove such licences, where there is good evidence of criminal behaviour.”
Orr-Ewing praised some landowners, farmers and gamekeepers around the Monadhliaths for their efforts to help bird populations grow and thrive.
But he said rogue elements were wreaking havoc.
He added: “There can be little doubt that current legislation and enforcement have proven to be insufficient deterrents to those criminals, invariably linked to the management of driven grouse shooting, who are intent on killing protected birds of prey.”
A report published by the Scottish Government last May was prompted by the regular disappearance of satellite-tagged eagles in the same area.
And its findings provided unequivocal evidence that the sudden disappearance of the birds is highly suspicious.
The report revealed that, of 131 young eagles tracked over 12 years, almost a third (41) had disappeared – and were presumed dead – under suspicious circumstances.
The disappearances occurred mainly in six areas of the Highlands, in most cases over land intensively managed for driven grouse shooting.
Orr-Ewing said: “This is now the 12th tagged eagle to go missing in this “black hole” in just seven years and is entirely consistent with the systematic and ongoing illegal persecution of eagles in this area.”
The latest young bird to disappear was fitted with a tag, sponsored by SSE, before he fledged from a nest in the Cairngorms National Park.
He was paired to a two-yearold female, also fitted with a transmitter. The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), who have played down claims of the systematic killing of eagles, yesterday urged people not to jump to conclusions, despite the claims of the RSPB.
A spokesman said: “If it is proven any harm has come to this bird and if it transpires there is evidence that that harm was the responsibility of an SGA member, they will be subject to our very strict wildlife crime disciplinary code.
“The legal process deserves respect before people automatically jump to apportioning blame.”
Anyone who can provide information about the disappearance of the latest bird, or other raptor persecution incidents, is asked to contact police on 101, or the RSPB Raptor Crime Hotline on 0300 999 0101.
Meaningful deterrents are now urgently required for these criminals DUNCAN ORR-EWING