Wildlife and Countryside Link‘s new wildlife crime report has found that reports of wildlife crime levels have remained stubbornly high since a surge during the Covid-19 pandemic, with 4,735 incidents reported in 2023. There were increased instances of persecution, harm or death being reported for badgers, bats and marine mammals in 2023. Yet convictions for wildlife crime remain shockingly few, with numbers at an all-time low when looking at all types of wildlife crime the report collects data on.
Tag Archives: crime
Perthshire estate sanctioned after ‘clear evidence’ of wildlife crime
The BBC report a Perthshire estate has been sanctioned after “clear evidence” of wildlife crime was found on the property.
It included a satellite-tagged hen harrier found dead on Lochan Estate in an illegally-set spring trap.
Wales appoints UK’s first wildlife and rural crime coordinator
The Guardian reports Rob Taylor’s job will involve working with the four police forces in Wales, the UK government, other emergency services and wildlife and farming representatives to tackle countryside crime from fly-tipping to heating oil theft.
Birds of prey persecution increases in lockdown
BBC News and The Daily Mail report the RSPB says it has been overrun with reports of birds of prey being illegally killed since the start of the lockdown 6 weeks ago. According to the charity the vast majority of incidents have been reported close to large estates used for game bird shooting.
The head of the RSPB investigations unit said it was like the ‘wild west’ out in the countryside with those wanting to kill birds of prey emboldened by the lack of walkers and hikers. At this time of year the charity would normally be getting 3 or 4 reports of killings a week, they are now getting 3 or 4 a day. Deaths include red kites, falcons and buzzards. RSPB described the killings as ‘orchestrated’.
Photo of dead buzzards by soundslogical under creative commons.
Wildlife crime wave fears as coronavirus lockdown distracts public attention
The Mirror reports wild animals are enjoying deserted streets, beaches and the countryside as air and car traffic has fallen dramatically – but Moorland Monitors, a group which documents wildlife crimes, fears incidents are going unreported with monitoring difficult to carry out under Covid-19 restrictions.
Why wildlife criminals are targeting UK birds of prey
iNews reports that a former special forces soldier dubbed the ‘Pablo Escobar of egg theft’ hit the headlines recently after being sentenced to three years in jail for stealing £100,000 of rare bird of prey eggs.
Jeffrey Lendrum was convicted for the third time in a long and global career of egg smuggling after being stopped on his way into Heathrow from South Africa with 17 hawk, eagle and vulture eggs strapped to his chest – as well as two newly-hatched chicks.
Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/why-the-uk-is-a-target-for-bird-of-prey-egg-thieves/
Photo Credit: Woking Peregrine Project / Woking Borough Council