Newsletter / Blog
2011-11-12 A century of protection and the poisoning of wild birds and animals goes on in the UK.
The barbaric act
of putting baits laced with deadly poisons out into the countryside to kill
wildlife was outlawed a century ago. Yet despite this, a new report published
today by the RSPB shows that this practice remains a major problem for the UK's birds of
prey.
The list of
chemicals used illegally to poison birds of prey includes a host of
agricultural pesticides, such as Carbofuran, Alphachloralose and Bendiocarb.
The RSPB's
Birdcrime report 2010 shows the highest number of reported incidents against
birds of prey and owls was 54 in North Yorkshire.
The Highlands reported 41 crimes against birds
of prey and owls, while Derbyshire and Northumberland recorded 20 incidents
each.
The reports
received by the RSPB included: 128 reports of wildlife poisoning; 227 reports
of shooting and destruction of birds of prey; 40 reported egg-collecting
incidents; 31 reports of illegal taking, possession or sale of birds of prey;
and 63 reports of illegal taking, possession or sale of wild birds, other than
birds of prey. |