3 Spanish Imperial Eagles poisoned!!!

[Collalba]

3 Spanish Imperial Eagles Aquila adalberti were killed by poison, from the pair near Isla Mayor, Donana. The female and two chicks were found dead last week, the male is missing. May the perpetrators of this most cowardly of acts rot and fester!!

I am afraid news like this just leaves me cold and speechless. :hmpf: :cry:


A very upset Peter!

[Collalba]

3 Spanish Imperial Eagles Aquila adalberti were killed by poison, from the pair near Isla Mayor, Donana. The female and two chicks were found dead last week, the male is missing. May the perpetrators of this most cowardly of acts rot and fester!!

I am afraid news like this just leaves me cold and speechless. :hmpf: :cry:


A very upset Peter!

And the story gets even worse! I had this report from a investigative source and I quote:

"thank you for qick response. The horrible thing is that the poison was hidden in rabbits, which someone layed directly under the nest in the first days of July - the man knew what he did..."

A very very angry Peter :hmpf::hmpf::hmpf:

[Derek Moore]

have they caught the culprit and what will happen to him?

Derek

[Andrew Cunningham]

This is a sickening act. I hope the culprit will be caught and dealt with harshly.

[Colin Key]

Words fail me on this Peter. I presume you are aware of a similar incident in the Alentejo earlier this year which killed one of Portugal's few breeding birds?

Do you have anything equivalent to our Portuguese SEPNA (environmental) Police in Spain, and if so, are they doing anything about this crime?

It never ceases to amaze me that, due to EU regulations, I can no longer purchase any effective pesticides for use in my garden against blackfly, etc. yet if you go to the local farmers co-operative and have a "quiet word" with the manager, you are taken into an inner sanctum where virtually every poison know to man can be purchased. We had a case a while ago where some anti-dog brigade were leaving chicken joints laced with strychnine at a popular dog-walking locality resulting in the excruciating death of many pets.

My sympathies,

Colin :realmad:

[darrenjhughes]

This is a hideous crime the EU really needs to look at this (Malta,Siscily,Corfu) And now Spain for Christ's sake sort it out or ***k them out of the EU.We have to have straight bananas so I'm sure that these member country's should toe the line to,

[Collalba]

have they caught the culprit and what will happen to him?
Derek

Not yet (see below)

Words fail me on this Peter. I presume you are aware of a similar incident in the Alentejo earlier this year which killed one of Portugal's few breeding birds?

Do you have anything equivalent to our Portuguese SEPNA (environmental) Police in Spain, and if so, are they doing anything about this crime?

My sympathies,

Colin :realmad:

Yes Colin I am painfully aware of the shooting incident in Alentejo earlier in the year. We have the equivalent of SEPNA in Spain and they are making every effort to track down this mindless moron. Thanks for the sympathy.

As yet nobody has been caught. Right now they are searching for the male, hopefully he survived. I will let you know any news. I still feel numbed by the ability and mentality of this kind of sub human behaviour. If caught the person could very well face an extremely hefty fine and/or even a jail term. Of course I would like to do far worse to the offender!

Peter :cry:

[Collalba]

Ecologists in Action, WWF-Spain, SEO / BirdLife and Andalucia Bird Society (14/07/09)* reported poisoning of three imperial eagles in the Doñana Natural Area (15/07/09)

The Board of Andalusia is required to use all reasonable means and forceful actions to find and punish the guilty. On July 4 in the Doñana Natural Park 3 corpses were found poisoned, a female and her two chicks in the town of Aznalcázar (Seville). In addition, the male of the pair is missing since that date, it is suspected it might also have been a victim of poisoning.

According to the data accessed by the ecological associations, poison was relayed via a poisoned rabbit, which was used as bait to attract the adult eagles in the enclosed supplementary feeding area in the vicinity of the nest, where food is shipped in for meal times by the technicians of the Board of Andalusia for the eagles.

For the environmental associations, place and type of bait used is clear proof of intent to attack directly the imperial eagles nesting in Veta Ali. Given the seriousness of this, the environmental agencies require that both the government and police and state security forces should redouble their efforts to identify and make available for criminal trial those responsible.

This loss is a major blow to the population of imperial eagles in Doñana, which after years of significant declines and on the brink of extinction, had entered a recovery phase, reaching the 9-pairs, for which the couple Veta Ali was essential, as it was among the highest reproductive successes of the Doñana region, with 10 chicks raised in the past five years.

The ecological associations consider this poisoning, which clearly was directed only to remove the pair of imperial eagles in Veta Ali as both an eco-catastrophe, since it means losing a few of the 250 pairs that exist of imperial eagle in the world (and its genetic basis), as economically and socially, because you cannot forget that human and economic efforts are being devoted by the government to ensure the survival of the species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.

Ecologists in Action, WWF-Spain, SEO / BirdLife and Andalucia Bird Society consider it as unacceptable the ease with which it was possible to access the area and put down poisoned bait, requiring the Ministry of Environment to institute greater efforts in preventive measures for the eradication of venom in Doñana and increased surveillance both inside and outside of protected natural areas. It also asks the prosecution to face an offence like this with due consideration to the seriousness of the crime, initiate the procedures required to clarify and, once aware of their responsibilities, ask for the maximum sentence for such an offence.

Environmental organizations are also called upon to cooperate with investigations and submit any information that may help to identify the person/s or organisations for this poisoning.

* First publicly announced by Andalucia Bird Society on the 14/07/09

Peter

[tapaculo]

This is a hideous crime the EU really needs to look at this (Malta,Siscily,Corfu) And now Spain for Christ's sake sort it out or ***k them out of the EU.We have to have straight bananas so I'm sure that these member country's should toe the line to,
Why is your anger focused only on Mediterranean nations? You seem to have a total blind spot when it comes to the appalling persecution of raptors in the UK, with no suggestion that the UK should be kicked out of the EU.

People in glass houses...

[MichaelF]

Absolutely right! Desperate situation in Britain regarding Hen Harriers in particular, but also Peregrines, Golden Eagles, and many others. :realmad::realmad::realmad:

Oh, and b.t.w., curved bananas are perfectly legal in the EU and always have been :ohdear:

[Colin Key]

Why is your anger focused only on Mediterranean nations? You seem to have a total blind spot when it comes to the appalling persecution of raptors in the UK, with no suggestion that the UK should be kicked out of the EU.

People in glass houses...

I do not know where you live 'tapaculo' but I doubt whether you have much, or any, experience of the attitude to wildlife (or animals in general whether they be pets, domestic or wild) in Southern Europe.

What you describe as "the appalling persecution of raptors in the UK" is absolutely trivial compared to that in circum-Mediterranean countries or the Mediterranean islands.

Colin

[Colin Key]

Oh, and b.t.w., curved bananas are perfectly legal in the EU and always have been :ohdear:

Michael,

Only last week (as reported in The Times and on the BBC website, but cannot find the links at the moment) the EU Commission removed its ban on the sale of "non standard" fruit and vegetables - it is now legal to sell straight bananas, curved cucumbers, knobbly spuds and genitalia-shaped carrots (delicious!).

Colin :laugh:

[MichaelF]

What you describe as "the appalling persecution of raptors in the UK" is absolutely trivial compared to that in circum-Mediterranean countries or the Mediterranean islands.Not true; it is worse, with a systematic organised extermination campaign run by grouse-shooting estetas. Hen Harrier is virtually extinct in England, only ten pairs, when the carrying capacity is probably several thousand pairs. And this year is the worst on record for Peregrine persecution.

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1674
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1568
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1433
http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=1390
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/about_us/news/2008/221208.aspx

[tapaculo]

I do not know where you live 'tapaculo' but I doubt whether you have much, or any, experience of the attitude to wildlife (or animals in general whether they be pets, domestic or wild) in Southern Europe.

What you describe as "the appalling persecution of raptors in the UK" is absolutely trivial compared to that in circum-Mediterranean countries or the Mediterranean islands.

Colin
I've lived in several European countries, and I'm well aware of conservation problems in southern Europe. But I don't think it's very constructive for such issues to degenerate into ridiculous and arrogant xenophobic rants (kick Spain, Italy, Greece out of the EU...), while there are similar problems in the UK and elsewhere.

You implicitly suggest that the abhorrent Doñana incident deserves international condemnation and punitive action, while the persecution of Hen Harriers, Golden Eagles etc in the UK should be seen as a relatively trivial internal matter which should not be a concern to other EU members.

[Collalba]

Why is your anger focused only on Mediterranean nations? You seem to have a total blind spot when it comes to the appalling persecution of raptors in the UK, with no suggestion that the UK should be kicked out of the EU.
People in glass houses...

Not true; it is worse, with a systematic organised extermination campaign run by grouse-shooting estetas. Hen Harrier is virtually extinct in England, only ten pairs, when the carrying capacity is probably several thousand pairs. And this year is the worst on record for Peregrine persecution.

I agree and believe all of us are aware through excellent reporting on this and other forums on the many threats facing raptors. Just to bring this thread back online, others deal with other said species and countries, Spanish Imperial Eagles have a world population of circa 250 pairs and it is this that makes for a need to raise awareness on 'this' species. I am not and never intended for 'this' thread to focus on only Mediterranean nations, only the species.

Peter

[Colin Key]

I've lived in several European countries, and I'm well aware of conservation problems in southern Europe. But I don't think it's very constructive for such issues to degenerate into ridiculous and arrogant xenophobic rants (kick Spain, Italy, Greece out of the EU...), while there are similar problems in the UK and elsewhere.

You implicitly suggest that the abhorrent Doñana incident deserves international condemnation and punitive action, while the persecution of Hen Harriers, Golden Eagles etc in the UK should be seen as a relatively trivial internal matter which should not be a concern to other EU members.

Well,

Darren's post might not have been as well-put as it might be, but I concur with his sentiments.

You cannot possibly compare the plight of species such as Hen Harrier, Peregrine or Golden Eagle in the U.K. with the immense scale of destruction which occurs in southern Europe and the Middle East. My use of the word "trivial" was comparative (in terms of numbers) in that respect.

I fully agree and sympathize with your views on, for example, the persecution of Hen Harriers. But in the U.K. you have the the most sympathetic (and financially generous) population, the best enforcers of EU regulations, and a Police Force which now has Wildlife Crime Prevention Officers in most regions. YOU have the ability to prevent these crimes if the instruments of justice are implemented as they should be. When a member of the Royal Family is seen with a shotgun at the edge of the Sandringham estate, the witnesses hear three shots and see a Hen Harrier drop from the sky, the police find no corpse but do recover three cartridge cases were are subsequently "lost", rather speaks volumes as to your democratic (and totally ineffectual) approach to these issues. Here, in Southern Europe, we do not have that option.

If, per capita, the U.K. populations had the same number of fire-arms as countries such as Portugal, Spain, Malta, Sicily, etc., and these weapons were used to the same extent as they are here (i.e. as a major form of recreation) then the U.K. would by now not have a single bird.

The scenario in the U.K. is not equivalent to that in other EU countries. Your loss of birds is due is due to idiotic government policies and the perpetual greed of most farmers (using the term in its widest context to include "shoots"). Here, people just kill for the sake of it - I refuse to use the word "hunters" because that is something they are not, they are pagans who enjoy the power they have over animals. One of my most vivid memories of the Iraq war was reading an article about one of Saddam's sons who, during the autumn migration, would take a pump-action shotgun and as many cartridges as the light plane would carry and fly amongst migrating raptors and shoot "tens of thousands" of eagles (species not specified, and probably just any large raptors) because to shoot the world's most powerful bird instilled him with power - total wanker who deserved what he got.

Unless you have see the scale of this massacre on migrational "flyways" then you really are not qualified to comment. Everyone is aware of what occurs in Malta, Sicily, etc. so no need to link to news articles. I have seen it first-hand.

Perhaps the mis-intentioned do-gooders in the U.K. might better spend their time, effort and money on protecting what you already have rather than "bio-meddling" with re-introduction programmes for species such as Great Bustard, White-tailed Eagle, Red Kite, etc.

Colin

:hmpf::nah::no:

[tapaculo]

Colin,

I’m more than well aware of the widespread shooting and trapping in Mediterranean areas, and have witnessed the sad results for myself. But you’re conflating that issue with the targeted poisoning of a raptor. Although happily the former problem is rare in northern Europe, the latter is exactly what happens with monotonous regularity in the UK.

Of course, the fact that Spanish Imperial Eagle is a globally-threatened (IUCN Vulnerable) species makes this particular incident much more worrying (and apologies to Peter for again straying from that important point). Britain doesn’t host even a single example of a globally-threatened bird species, so it could be argued that any UK raptor persecution is no big deal. [Although the abysmal level of protection afforded the large number of threatened species in the UK's Overseas Territories is inexcusable.] But the malice and crime of the individuals concerned are no different. And, as you've noted, policing of wildlife offences in the UK is largely ineffectual, with few prosecutions and generally derisory penalties.

In your vigorous support of Darren’s post, I’m still unclear of your own position. Are you merely defending his right to get angry and make irrational demands in the heat of the moment? Or, in concurring with his sentiments, do you agree that following this incident, Spain should indeed be kicked out of the EU?

As part-British myself, I find myself repeatedly embarrassed by our fondness for lecturing the rest of the world on good governance, social equality, corruption, bribery, human rights, torture, non-aggression, respect for sovereignty, nuclear non-proliferation etc (as well as conservation), while conveniently ignoring our own serious failings.

I’m guessing that you’re probably a British or Irish expat yourself (apologies if I’ve jumped to the wrong conclusion), and now living as a guest in Iberia. If so, I’m surprised that you’re so eager to endorse such jingoistic knee-jerk reactions.

[Colin Key]

Colin,

As part-British myself, I find myself repeatedly embarrassed by our fondness for lecturing the rest of the world on good governance, social equality, corruption, bribery, human rights, torture, non-aggression, respect for sovereignty, nuclear non-proliferation etc (as well as conservation), while conveniently ignoring our own serious failings.


No, I am not "vigorously" supporting Darren's viewpoint. The portion of your post which I have quoted above perfectly mirrors my viewpoint.

I do not mind discussing this with you, or anyone else, but I do not want to get embroiled in what could become an endless argument.

I am now more interested in "conservation" than in "birding" and hope that my efforts here, where I give freely my time, expertise (resulting from experience) and money in order to help a small country which has problems in helping itself.

I see my stance as constructive rather then destructive (in spite of wanting to exterminate the perpetrators of some of these crimes), but I will reiterate what I said previously inasmuch as the U.K. has the will, the wealth and the machinery to control what is happening to their wildlife and their environment, here we do not - and that, in terms of "mindset", is a HUGE factor to take into consideration.

With some of the experiences I have had here, I frequently wake up in the morning totally lacking in hope and morale.

Regards,

Colin

[terry pickford]

This is terrible news of course from a country which is seen to care for it's wildlife heritage. On the other hand readers should view the terrible detail of widespread raptor persucution taking place throughout the UK on a new raptor site, at www.raptorpolitics.org.uk

[Colin Key]

Thanks for that link Terry (which I have now bookmarked). I have only just had a brief look - Eagle Owls I would exterminate in the U.K. (I really think that there is a potential, if not real, problem there) but Hen Harriers I would do almost anything to conserve. Peregrines I think can now look after themselves in terms of numbers and sustainability.

But, referring back to my previous posts, the scale of the problem in the U.K. is nothing as compared as to what is going on down here.

By the way, welcome to the forum :beer:

Colin

[Johnny X]

Sad news, although I believe the SIE's population continues to grow slowly? A tribute to all the hard work done to protect the species.

I kinda agree with posters above about Brits appearing a bit hypocritical when commenting on such matters. The interesting thing about the UK's raptor persecution issues is that no-one much likes to talk about it! It is a big problem in my area (E. Scotland) and the expected upland species are largely absent from huge areas. The scale of the issue should not be underestimated.

[Colin Key]

Sad news, although I believe the SIE's population continues to grow slowly? A tribute to all the hard work done to protect the species.

I kinda agree with posters above about Brits appearing a bit hypocritical when commenting on such matters. The interesting thing about the UK's raptor persecution issues is that no-one much likes to talk about it! It is a big problem in my area (E. Scotland) and the expected upland species are largely absent from huge areas. The scale of the issue should not be underestimated.

The great difference in perception of this problem Johnny (speaking as a Brit living in southern Europe) is that in the U.K. you are relating to mainly resident species ("your birds") whereas here in the circum-Mediterranean region we see the problem as affecting the enormous numbers of migratory species ("everyone's birds").

Do you remember the 20+ Red-footed Falcons shot at their roost last year (cannot now remember whether it was Malta, Cyprus or elsewhere) for no other reason than someone with a shotgun wanted to kill living things?

When you see Osprey, Flamingo, Griffon Vulture, etc blasted out of the sky (as I have witnessed) purely because they were moving targets it gives you a rather different perspective on the issue.

Colin :cry: