Golden eagle was poisoned

A GOLDEN eagle was deliberately poisoned on a rural estate in Aberdeenshire, police said. The bird of prey was found dead on a hillside on the Invercauld Estate, in the heart of the Cairngorms, near Crathie on March 19 after being illegally targeted with a toxic substance.

Police say officers searched a number of properties on the estate on Tuesday but no arrests have been made.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gary Cunningham, Police Scotland’s wildlife crime lead, said: “Scotland’s rich, rare and diverse wildlife and landscapes are among its biggest attractions. We cannot allow the indiscriminate use of poisons and pesticides to threaten our natural heritage. Police Scotland, working with our key partners, is committed to protecting our wildlife habitats and to bringing those who seek to destroy or harm it to justice.”

The RSPB said there were 85 confirmed incidents of bird of prey persecution, involving buzzards, red kites, peregrine falcons, golden eagles and hen harriers, in 2019.