And so the appalling carnage continues ....
There were 108 confirmed incidents of illegal persecution of birds of
prey across Britain in 2021 according to the annual Birdcrime report published
by the RSPB.
RSPB - Wild birds and the law
https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/documents/birds-and-wildlife/crime/2021/bc2021_report.pdf
England’s tally of 80 confirmed persecution
incidents was the second highest figure since records began in 1990 after an unprecedented surge in wildlife crime during the Covid-19
pandemic year of 2020. That year, a record 137 known incidents of
bird of prey persecution were logged by the RSPB with
lockdowns seemingly creating an increased opportunity to kill raptors without
detection.
Although the total fell in 2021, it was still
higher than in previous years with 85 confirmed persecution
incidents in 2019, 87 in 2018 and 64 in 2015.
According to the RSPB, 71% of all confirmed incidents in 2021 related to land managed for
game bird shooting. Birds of prey are
persecuted and killed because they are perceived to be a threat to the
stocks of pheasants, partridges and Red Grouse.
Mark Thomas, the UK Head of Investigations for the RSPB said:
“The data in this report clearly show that raptor persecution remains
at a sustained high level. The illegal shooting, trapping and poisoning of
birds of prey has no place in modern society. In a nature and climate
emergency, the deliberate destruction of protected species for financial gain
is completely devastating and unacceptable.”
The total in 2021 includes 50 Common Buzzards, 16 Red Kites, 7 Peregrines
and 3 Goshawks.
Two of the worst counties in 2021 were Norfolk (13 incidents) and Dorset
(12 incidents), both lowland areas where pheasant and partridge shoots are
commonplace.
A UN assessment of UK wildlife
crime requested by the Government last year recommended stronger
regulation of the shooting industry.
The RSPB and many
other organisations and individuals are calling for the licensing of driven
grouse moors to regulate estates where illegal persecution and killing of birds of prey and wildlife occurs. The Scottish
Government is currently consulting on a new law to
license grouse moors.
Beccy Speight, the Chief Executive of the RSPB, said: “The United Nations report
makes clear what must be done to end these wildlife crimes and we call on the
new Government in Westminster and Governments around the UK to act and pave the
way towards a sustainable future, respectful of the law.”
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