21 May 2018
A rare red kite had to be put
down after it was found shot and blinded in County Durham, the RSPB said.
The bird was found alive in
Derwent Gorge, near Shotley Bridge, by a member of the public. However, after
it was found to be blind it was euthanized.
Since 2010, six kites have been
poisoned or shot near Derwent Gorge, including a red kite found poisoned in
nearby Muggleswick in 2014.
Police are investigating and have
appealed for witnesses.
Like all birds of prey, red kites
are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an
offence to deliberately kill or injure a wild bird.
Those convicted can face an
unlimited fine or up to six months in jail.
Howard Jones, RSPB Investigations
Officer, said: "It is very sad that this bird had to be euthanized, but
there was no alternative.
"Close examination of the
bird by experts revealed that its injuries were so severe that it could never
have been released back into the wild and it would have had zero quality of
life."
Jenny Shelton, from the charity's
Investigations Unit, added: "Spring is a crucial time of year when adult
kites will be feeding their young, so the death of this bird could have also
affected any family it might have been raising.
"Red kites were almost
completely wiped out of the UK until they were reintroduced in the 1980s.
"This has been a wonderful
success, and most of us enjoy watching these impressive birds. But threats like
persecution are preventing them from naturally expanding their range and we
clearly have a problem area on our hands here.
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