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Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
‘Deplorable' poisoning of White-Tailed Eagle in Kerry under investigation
The young female eagle was brought in as a chick from Norway in 2024 by the White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme, managed by NPWS, under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Sadly the bird was found dead in Glencar in April of this year and toxicology reports show it was poisoned by a illegal substance. The NPWS have launched an investigation into the death of the eagle and have strongly criticised the incident. Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD also criticised the incident. The young female eagle released in Killarney National Park in 2024. Since 2020, all eagles released as part of this programme are monitored via satellite-tags. Concerns were raised in early April, as the eagle's satellite tag showed that she had remained stationary for several days. NPWS staff went to the location of the satellite tag and located the partially decomposed carcass of the eagle in a woodland. Toxicology tests have confirmed it had been poisoned with Carbofuran, an insecticide which has been banned in Ireland since 2007. It is not known how the eagle ingested this substance at this time. The NPWS said it 'deplores the deliberate killing of rare and endangered species, and takes bird of prey persecutions extremely seriously.' Deputy O'Sullivan said that the loss is 'regrettable' but will not stop efforts to introduce the bird of prey. 'Any loss in the wild not due to natural causes, is usually the result of human activity and this tragic loss is deeply regrettable.' 'We will continue with our efforts to introduce, nurture and protect these birds as part of The Reintroduction Programme which has been making significant progress in restoring this lost flagship species to Irish skies. The White Tailed Eagle is part of Ireland's natural heritage and are important for our biodiversity, as they are a good indicator species regarding the health of our ecosystems.' Considerable efforts in recent years to reintroduce this iconic species, which was driven to extinction in the 19th and early 20th century by human persecution, have successfully contributed to the species re-establishment in Ireland. The White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programme, which began in 2007, has so far released nearly 200 young eagles which have been supplied by the Norwegian Government. Currently, there are 13-16 breeding pairs, with 64 chicks fledged by the end of 2024. Sadly, however, a number of the eagles brought in as part of the programme have met untimely deaths. Recently, it was announced that a male eagle which held territory in Lough Derg for 17 years had been found dead, also suspected due to poisoning. The NPWS said the 'persecution by humans is the biggest threat to the reintroduction programme in Ireland." "The misuse/illegal use of poisons accounts for nearly 50% of eagle deaths where the cause of mortality was able to be determined, and at least one eagle has been shot. In terms of natural causes of death, a number of eagles have succumbed to avian flu, as well as other conditions,' they said. The NPWS have now launched an investigation and are appealing to the public for information. 'We appealing for any information the public may have in relation to the incident, or any other suspected poisoning or other unlawful killing of birds." Any information in respect of this or any suspected breaches of the Wildlife legislation should be reported to the NPWS head office or local offices or via email to wildlifeenforcement@ Wildlife crime incidents can also be reported to An Garda Síochána. The NPWS has also stressed that in the interests of public health and safety, the public should not handle dead birds.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
UK's oldest wild White-tailed Eagle dies aged 32
The UK's oldest wild White-tailed Eagle has died aged 32, RSPB Scotland has eagle, a female named Frisa, hatched in Mull in 1992, where she spent almost three decades raising chicks, becoming a regular on TV nature was the daughter of Blondie, who successfully raised the first White-tailed Eagle chick to fledge in Scotland following the reintroduction of the species in paired up with her long-time mate Skye in 1997, with the pair raising their first chick in Mull the following year. They went on to raise 25 chicks during 28 years of May 2005, Frisa and Skye made their television debut on the first ever episode of BBC's Springwatch alongside their chicks Itchy and Scratchy – named by the pupils of Dervaig Primary School in the next two decades they made many more appearances on the programme, as well as featuring on Autumnwatch, Winterwatch, Blue Peter, Eagle Island with Gordon Buchanan, Countryfile and The One death was announced on the latest episode of Springwatch on Ambassador Dave Sexton, who spent 21 years working with White-tailed Eagles in Mull, said Frisa had been "a very special bird who had touched the hearts of millions who saw her both on TV and in the wild".He added: "As Frisa got on in years, I dreaded the day I would visit her territory and find her gone."Sadly, that day has come and I feel like I've lost a friend."She was a true icon for White-tailed Eagles and she'll always hold a special place in my heart." Frisa has not been seen since last year, leading experts to believe that died of either natural causes or following an altercation with another has been spotted with another younger female eagle in Mull, which is strong evidence of Frisa's death as White-tailed Eagles usually mate for means that Skye, who hatched in 1994, is now the oldest wild White-tailed Eagle in the UK at species became extinct in the UK in 1918, when the last known native wild bird was shot in a reintroduction project by NatureScot in the Isle of Rum, which began in 1975 using chicks donated from Norway, has seen White-tailed Eagles re-establish a self-sustaining population in are now estimated to be up to 200 pairs in the UK.
