Birds of prey killed illegally in 'relentless' targeting across UK, RSPB warns

Animal lovers have demanded an end to the "relentless" illegal killing of birds of prey with warnings that fresh figures are the "tip of the iceberg".

The RSPB revealed there were 1,529 confirmed bird of prey persecution incidents involving 1,344 individual animals between 2009 and 2023.

These include rare and threatened species such as Golden Eagles, Hen Harriers, Peregrine Falcons, White-tailed Eagles and Goshawks.

Mark Thomas, the RSPB's head of investigations, said: "Our latest report harrowingly details what the team sees on a day-to-day basis: the scale of raptor persecution, where it is happening and who is responsible.

"In the last 15 years, a minimum of 1344 amazing birds like Hen Harriers, Red Kites and eagles have been deliberately killed, the majority in connection with gamebird shooting - that's a national disgrace which requires urgent UK government action.

"If we are to save birds like the highly threatened Hen Harrier, then the current legislation is clearly not enough: we need licencing of gamebird shooting throughout the UK, stronger penalties and meaningful sentencing to stop these crimes and save our wildlife." ,

The organisation warned that the figures represent "just the tip of the iceberg" because many of these incidents take place in unpopulated areas where they go unreported.

In 2022 a Hen Harrier was found dead near the border of Yorkshire and Cumbria: the post-mortem examination concluded that its head had been pulled from its body while still alive.

Two young White-tailed Eagles - a species slowly recovering having been wiped out in the UK by persecution last century - were found dead on a grouse moor in County Antrim, Northern Ireland in 2023.

An analysis confirmed that both eagles had died by ingesting Bendiocarb, a highly toxic insecticide.

The majority of raptor persecution incidents are associated with land managed for gamebird shooting, where some individuals deliberately target birds of prey to maximise the number of game birds available to shoot for sport.

Beccy Speight, RSPB chief executive, said: "For decades, the RSPB has investigated hundreds of cases of illegal bird of prey persecution in the UK.

"A significant proportion of these incidents happen on or near land associated with gamebird shooting. The RSPB is calling on the Westminster Government and all devolved administrations across the UK to introduce the licencing of gamebird shooting. This progressive step will help challenge the relentless killing of our birds of prey and help to safeguard their future survival."

A spokesman for the environment department said: "Bird of prey crime is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife."