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A shocking report reveals that Britain's rare birds of prey are still being illegally killed despite legal protections. Discover the details and implications.
GlipzoDespite being protected by law for decades, Britain's rarest birds of prey continue to face illegal killings, a concerning revelation from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). A report set to be released on Wednesday highlights 921 confirmed incidents of persecution from 2015 to 2024, with over half of these occurring on or near land used for game shooting.
Mark Thomas, who leads the RSPB's investigations unit, emphasized that these heinous acts are primarily driven by financial interests. Birds of prey are often targeted because they prey on young game birds like pheasants and partridges, impacting the profits of shooting estates. The RSPB's report underscores a troubling trend where the very protections intended to safeguard these magnificent creatures are not being enforced effectively.
In light of this alarming trend, the RSPB is advocating for gamebird shooting in England and Wales to be licensed. They argue that tougher penalties should be imposed on estates when protected birds are found dead on their land. The targeted species include eagles, red kites, peregrine falcons, hen harriers, goshawks, and barn owls.
The organization only categorizes an incident as **
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