As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Sunday, 18 September 2016

Dead birds of prey found on estate in 'most significant wildlife poisoning case ever recorded in Wales'




13:19, 7 SEP 2016
UPDATED 13:19, 7 SEP 2016

Investigators said an inquiry revealed 'the extensive use of poisoning'

Slain birds of prey were discovered on land belonging to a Queen’s representative in Wales in what has been dubbed “the most significant wildlife poisoning case ever recorded” in Wales.

Eight buzzards, five red kites, two ravens and five pheasants – used as bait for the other birds – were discovered on the Glanusk estate.

The land belongs to the Legge-Bourke family. Shân Legge-Bourke is Lord Lieutenant of Powys and the mother of the nanny of Princes Harry and William, Tiggy.

There is no suggestion the family have done anything wrong.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Glanusk estate said the incident was “nothing to do with the management team or the owners of the estate” and that they “followed and complied with and aided the investigation at all stages.”

The estate said the incident happened “on a forested area of the outer estate grounds and not within the Glanusk Park walls” and that “the owners and management of the Glanusk estate continue to observe the highest standards of animal welfare and general habitat wellbeing.”

A spokesman added: “This was an abhorrent incident at the time and deeply upsetting for the owners and trustees of the estate who were disappointed there was not enough evidence for the CPS to prosecute.”

The edge of the Glanusk Estate, near Crickhowell

The dead birds were found in 2013 but the incident has not been reported until now.
In October the year before four pheasants were discovered near the remains of a red kite. The kite could not be tested but the pheasants were poisoned.

TV wildlife expert Iolo Williams was appalled by the incident. He said: “It is the second worst incident of bird of prey poisoning in the UK 

in the last 40 years. It’s horrific, disgusting, absolutely disgusting. This is something that belongs in Victorian times.” 


No comments:

Post a Comment