Illegal slaughter of birds of prey is soaring

WILDLIFE experts and police have raised fears about the number of birds of prey being illegally killed during lockdown.

The RSPB’s investigations unit says it has been ‘overrun’ with reports of birds, including hen harriers, peregrines, buzzards and red kites, being slaughtered.

Superintendent Nick Lyall, head of the raptor persecution priority delivery group, said it appeared the virus lockdown had been ‘seen as a green light’ by some to continue illegally killing birds.

Police are investigating a number of cases of shootings and suspected poisoning of birds of prey, including those on land managed for grouse shooting.

Mark Thomas, RSPB head of investigations, said: ‘It is clear that criminals on some sporting estates, both in the uplands and lowlands, have used the wider closure of the countryside as an opportunity to ramp up their efforts to kill the birds.’