28 Jun 2012   Posted by greyheron

“A GOLDEN eagle found dead in Lochaber was poisoned, it has been revealed, as a multi-agency investigation to find the culprit continues. The majestic bird of prey was the third known eagle to have been poisoned in the Morar area in the past 10 years, with two white-tailed eagles previous victims. A post-mortem conducted by […]

 21 Jun 2012   Posted by greyheron

“In Scotland, the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act of 2011, effective from 2012, makes it an offence to “intentionally or recklessly kill, injure or take brown hares [during their breeding season] from 1 February to 30 September (and mountain hares from 1 March to 31 July). Much of mainland Europe and Northern Ireland has similar […]

 10 May 2012   Posted by greyheron

“A man who became the first person in Scotland to be convicted of trading parts of endangered animal species has been given community service. Steven Paterson, 48, had the skull of a pilot whale and the tooth of a sperm whale stored in his home. He also kept and tried to sell two harbour porpoise […]

 05 May 2012   Posted by NWCU2

“It is suspected that a young golden eagle died after its legs were broken by an illegal trap. On 5 May 2012, the Scottish Agricultural College laboratory in Aberdeen carried out a post-mortem examination. This concluded that the raptor had suffered two broken legs due to trauma “that could be consistent with an injury caused by […]

 19 Apr 2012   Posted by greyheron

“A FARMER has admitted owning a banned pesticide that has killed hundreds of birds in Scotland. Tom McKellar, 50, pled guilty at Oban Sheriff Court to possessing carbofuran, which is so deadly a single grain can kill a bird while just a quarter of a teaspoon could be fatal to humans. Officers investigating the discovery […]

 12 Feb 2012   Posted by greyheron

“An man who made more than £20,000 from illegally selling stuffed birds on the internet has been jailed for 8 months. Greg Turner, 32, of St Peters Court, Astwood Close, Potton, pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to 13 offences involving the illegal trade of endangered wildlife. Bedfordshire Police raided his home back in September […]

 31 Jan 2012   Posted by greyheron

“Colchester Zoo has spent thousands of pounds on security to protect the horns of its rhinos from poachers. A big-money alarm system has been installed to deter poachers who might be planning to sneak in at night and saw off the animals’ horns. Rhino horn has long been a sought-after commodity, but prices are currently […]

 02 Nov 2011   Posted by NWCU2

“BUSTED: A carved tusk and statue seized at the Auckland Mail Centre that have been tested and confirmed to be ivory from African elephants.  Luxury items made of elephant ivory and turtle shell have been seized in Auckland as part of an international-sting on smugglers. Forensic tests will be carried out to confirm the pieces including three carved […]

 26 May 2011   Posted by greyheron

“A gamekeeper on a Highland estate was found with enough poison to kill the country’s entire golden eagle and red kite population several times over. The raid on Skibo Estate in Sutherland was carried out last year just days after two golden eagles and a sparrow hawk were found poisoned. Two of the birds were […]

 26 May 2011   Posted by greyheron

“A GAMEKEEPER has become the first person in Scotland to be convicted of possessing a dead red kite since the species was reintroduced to the country 22 years ago. James Rolfe, who worked on the Moy estate in Invernessshire, was fined 1,500 at Inverness Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to the crime, committed in June […]