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Yet another Eagle poisoned in Kerry

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  • 18-03-2009 7:49pm
    #1
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,673 ✭✭✭


    The reintroduction effort to return the magnificent White-tailed Sea-Eagle back to their former range in Kerry appears to be heading for the rocks with the news of yet another poisoning incident. There now appears to be a sustained campaign by persons in the area to target this worthy project which already has had tourism spin-offs in Killarney and the surrounding area with people flocking to the National Park to catch a glimpse of these awesome birds of prey.

    I suspected that this project was going to have problems getting off the ground given the sustained campaign of ignorance and mis-information pedaled by the local IFA branch. This is in stark contrast to their counterparts in Donegal in relation to the Golden Eagle re-introduction were the vast majority sheep farmers have embraced the birds as their friend given that their main prey items include crows and foxs. As any ecologist/wildlife expert/ ornitholgist will tell neither species targets live sheep or lamb. Like most eagles they will also feed on carrion when the chance arises and this is their major achilles heal when it comes to reckless and criminal use of poisoned carcase's by a small group of gombeen landowners.


    Studies in the UK and US have proven that 98% of livestock loss's on sheep and cattle farms are due to either poor husbandry or bad weather. On the extremely rare occasion where wildlife and/or dogs are causing significant damage to an individual farmer, targeted trapping and shooting have been proven to be a far more effective and humane way of controlling this situation. Poisoning is an indiscriminate and cruel method which more often than not leads to killing everything but the problem animal. This is particualry the case in dog attacks where these often household pets are well feed by their owners but are simply acting out of instinct.


    Given that now, a third of the eagles in Kerry have met an agonising death through poisoning, this issue is becoming one of animal welfare. Can the project leaders justify sending more young Norwegian Sea-Eagles to their death in Kerry. Until the issue of delibrate mis-use of poison by certain farmers is tackled through stiff fines and loss of EU entitlements on conviction(as has been succesfullly employed in Scotland for example in relation to similiar problems on shooting estates over there), the current state of affairs cannot be justified.


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    #2
    Kess73
    Registered Users Posts: 25,560 ✭✭✭✭Kess73


    That is a disgrace. Really goes to show how backwards some of the scum doing this really are. I bet they are quick to whinge and look for government handouts though, and before anyone wants to comment, I know it is a minority of farmers that set poison on their land, and I don't just mean in Kerry.


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    #3
    Hendrix89
    Registered Users Posts: 649 ✭✭✭Hendrix89


    Takes a real class A scumbag to kill an animal (especially newly reintroduced) in this way.. And I'd bet these worthless scum know exactly how much suffering and pain death by poisoning causes..

    If they can't stand to live alongside nature, which is quite clear from things like this, then they have no right to be farmers and would have their lively hood taken away from them if it were up to me..

    Of course the above was not directed towards all farmers obviously. Only to those few individuals who feel they have the right to indiscriminately wipe out wild animals (in such a horrible way) that are only doing what it's in their nature to do..

    They're not above the law, however much they believe so.. And they damn well better be caught.


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    #4
    Jim Martin
    Registered Users Posts: 806 ✭✭✭Jim Martin


    The Irish Wildlife Trust published this on 19/03/09:

    "Press Release

    March 19th, 2009

    Poisoning of Birds of Prey


    The Irish Wildlife Trust is dismayed at further news of dead eagles following the suspected poisoning of a White-tailed sea eagle in Kerry this week. This follows on from the confirmed poisoning of a Golden eagle in Donegal last week. Together, these actions by a small number of landowners, has put the entire reintroduction project under threat.


    Both species of eagle were once widespread across Ireland and are ingrained in our heritage and folklore. Sadly they were persecuted to extinction in the early 20th century and it has taken much effort and taxpayers’ money to restore these magnificent birds to their ancient lands. The continued laying of poison in meat jeopardises all that has been achieved to-date, including the first successful rearing of a Golden eagle chick in Ireland for over a hundred years.


    The IWT acknowledges the strong support that has been given to the reintroduction projects by individual farmers in Kerry and Donegal, and their representative organisations. Without their continued support efforts at conserving our natural heritage are unlikely to succeed. Nevertheless, further action is required to halt this cruel and destructive practice in our countryside.


    The IWT is calling on the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Agriculture to ban the laying of poison once and for all. This would not only protect our wildlife but also send out a clear signal that Irish agriculture can thrive without the use of noxious chemicals on the land. However, closing loopholes in legislation is not enough. There must be greater enforcement of the Wildlife Act and the subsequent loss of Single Farm Payments to those landowners who are found to be contravening European environmental law.


    The future of Ireland’s great birds of prey now hangs in the balance. Individual farmers and their organisations must let their voices be heard that they condemn the poisoning of our protected wildlife and support more stringent actions to close legislative loopholes and enforce national and European laws. The public can also help by adding their voices to this on-line petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/IWT/


    For further information visit the Irish Willdife Trust website: www.iwt.ie or email enquiries@iwt.ie



    ENDS


    Contact:
    For further information please contact Padraic Fogarty - IWT Chairperson
    Ph: 01 860 2839 or E-mail: enquiries@iwt.ie


    Editors Notes:
    The Irish Wildlife Trust was founded in 1979 as a charitable conservation body. We provide the public with information about wildlife, run education and training programs like SAC Watch and the Outdoor Classroom Programme, carry out habitat and species surveys like the IWT National Lizard Survey, campaign and lobby around biodiversity issues, restore natural habitats, consult with industry, agriculture and Local Authorities to maintain our natural heritage and contribute to national and international forums for the protection of biodiversity. The IWT is a nationwide organisation with a strong membership base, staff and Board of Directors, with branches in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford and Cork."


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    #5
    seanybiker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,898 ✭✭✭✭seanybiker


    ah jaysus. Their some sh1t heads for poisoning the poor things.


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    #6
    Day Lewin
    Registered Users Posts: 4,641 ✭✭✭Day Lewin


    It takes a special kind of mean-spirited cruelty to destroy a uniquely beautiful creeature such as the birds of prey that are at the top of their food chain.
    It's like saying, "I'M at the top of the food chain!" - But in Nature, predators don't exterminate themselves, nor wipe out their own food supply.
    Those mean spirits have a lot to learn about their place in the world.


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    #7
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    Just keep in mind that many such poisonings are "accidental" in that the poison is legally laid and not intende for the various birds of prey who fall victim to it. Having investigated several poisonings I know most are not aimed at the unfortunate victim. No excuse and doesn't make it any better but don't rush to cry scumbags etc without knowing what happened.


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    #8
    dodgyme
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,581 ✭✭✭dodgyme


    Avianna Bewildered Pope wrote: »
    Just keep in mind that many such poisonings are "accidental" in that the poison is legally laid and not intende for the various birds of prey who fall victim to it. Having investigated several poisonings I know most are not aimed at the unfortunate victim. No excuse and doesn't make it any better but don't rush to cry scumbags etc without knowing what happened.


    Fari enough but someone is putting down enough poison in an area where there are major effort to reintroduce these beautiful birds. They shouldnt get off the hook.


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    #9
    jimmysull
    Closed Accounts Posts: 109 ✭✭jimmysull


    Great to see the tourist industry looks on these birds as an asset to the area:
    http://www.glencarhouse.com/news/2009/04/see-the-white-tailed-eagle-in-kerry-ireland/

    It would be a huge shame to see them disappear through poisoning whether deliberate or not. The reintroduction experiment would be unlikely to be repeated if it were to fail due to poisoning as opposed to natural reasons.


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    #10
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    I read about this in the press to night and i was disgusted.


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    #11
    Connacht
    Registered Users Posts: 447 ✭✭Connacht


    1. The laying of poison for whatever reason should be illegal. However, as we all know, in good old Ireland, it would never be enforced even if it was illegal.
    2. The Scots and others have heard about this and will surely stop sending us any more birds until this stops. This seriously hampers (perhaps terminally) our efforts to re-introduce the wonderful Golden Eagle, White-Tauiled Eagle and Red Kite.
    3. Even if a BoP ever managed to kill a farmed animal, the farmer could easily be financially compensated, as he couldn't possibly "fake" a BoP kill. Admittedly, this point is kind of irrelevant, since I doubt the farmers are targeting the birds with the poison in the first place.
    As a matter of interest, in the French Pyrenees, the recent bumping up of the native Brown Bear population with extra animals from eatern Europe has met with fierce opposition from many farmers. There, bear kills are compensated.


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    #12
    BryanL
    Registered Users Posts: 1,124 ✭✭✭BryanL


    When the Scot's were re-introducing these birds they also had problems with a few birds being poisoned. So they should at least be understanding.
    Bryan


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    #13
    Poll Dubh
    Registered Users Posts: 1,145 ✭✭✭Poll Dubh


    The Golden Eagle Trust itself has set up an online petition to campaign against this practice - currently 1385 signatures.


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    #14
    Ricky91t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,281 ✭✭✭Ricky91t


    Another one has been found dead :(

    Now 12 out of the possible 55 have died, If this continues by the time they get settled and begin to breed they'll be very few left...

    It's disgusting that people do this and if this turns out to be poisoned then it's a disgrace!

    http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0403/eagle.html


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    #15
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users Posts: 9,673 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    Ricky91t wrote: »
    Another one has been found dead :(

    Now 12 out of the possible 55 have died, If this continues by the time they get settled and begin to breed they'll be very few left...

    It's disgusting that people do this and if this turns out to be poisoned then it's a disgrace!

    http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0403/eagle.html

    Already a thread here :http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055873833 mate


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    #16
    Ricky91t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,281 ✭✭✭Ricky91t


    Birdnuts wrote: »
    Already a thread here :http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055873833 mate

    Thanks for that, Sorry I tried to find the forum but couldn't so just searched for the eagle and found this thread!


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