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Rare eagle found shot dead was killed in Northern Ireland
Thursday, 19 November 2009
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A ninth white-tailed sea eagle has been killed since the project to reintroduce the birds of prey began two years ago.
The scientist in charge of the project in Co Kerry believes the eagle was shot in Northern Ireland, and brings to nine the number of eagles that have died of man-led causes, with most of them dying from poisoning.
The PSNI and wildlife groups in Northern Ireland are involved in the investigation into the reported shooting of the female eagle which was found by kayakers floating on Lough Neagh, Co Antrim, in mid-October.
Examination of the eagle's transmitter indicated that it had been shot. Golden eagles became extinct in Ireland in the 1950s, but the reintroduction of them to the Republic has seen the birds return to the north.
Dr Allan Mee, who was previously involved with the successful re-introduction of condors in North America, yesterday said 55 eagles had so far been brought from Norway -- where they are already becoming a major tourist attraction -- to the Killarney National Park, Co Kerry.
"Up until now the eagles have spent months at a time safely in Northern Ireland before returning to Kerry," Dr Mee said.
The ambitious project, backed by the Republic's National Parks and Wildlife Service along with the Golden Eagle Trust, plans to re-introduce 100 of the birds which were last recorded in Ireland -- off the coasts of Co Kerry and Co Mayo -- in 1898.
Dr Mee said he strongly believed the people would not accept eagles being driven to extinction by illegal shooting and poisoning once again.
"For me the survival of these birds and the success of the reintroduction programmes is a test of how far we have come as a people."
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i think it is sick that these people would shoot and poison birds of prey particuarly eagles. you would think with the size of these birds people would catch on that there a bit bigger than ur average pigeon or crow. i think there should be tighter gun laws in northern ireland as i myself suspect that my own captive breed goshawk has been shot on a phesant shoot in co.antrim.
Posted by bird_man | 11.01.10, 23:34 GMT
Typical of this festering backwater of in-bred cretins and half-wits.
Posted by man dingo | 20.11.09, 13:25 GMT
The birds would have a better chance of survival in Afg.
Posted by hope | 20.11.09, 09:21 GMT
Someone must know who did this and they should report it to the proper authorities. I read somewhere that the sea eagles on Mull bring in about £3 million pounds a year to the local community so just think what the potential might have been if this bird had stayed around lough neagh. Absolutely disgraceful act.
Posted by Brendan | 19.11.09, 17:59 GMT
Totally crass comment below about NI. There are sadistic morons in every country and unfortunately very few countries that take serious measures to prevent wildlife persecution. Convictions are few and sentences paltry, so the abuse goes on.
Posted by BM | 19.11.09, 17:27 GMT
If Ulster and Ireland had a law with real hard fixed penalty of killing a eagle, the idiots whould not violated the law. In the USA, if you shot a eagle and are caught, your a cooked goose.
Posted by phl | 19.11.09, 17:02 GMT
Shooting is a past time and it should be something we should support - versus the mass farming and slaughter of birds (What I'm getting at is, a shooter kills and eats what he needs, the mass farmers kill for the masses and a lot goes to waste that wouldn't go to waste, to the personal shooter)
But when endangered species feel the brunt of things then it's a brand new problem.
Any shooter would recognise an eagle for certain. This was clearly the doing of idiots with guns.
Posted by P Wilson | 19.11.09, 15:56 GMT
Oh may god who is doing this ....they should be punished hard when found / caught..
what harm are they doing its such a beautiful sound when your out and about and you actually hear them ,I would sit out if i thought i would catch the person/persons doing this savage crime
Posted by kate | 19.11.09, 15:38 GMT
Reminds me of a joke my uncle used to tell...about an Englishman who was inordinately pleased to have shot a bird that morning which was long thought to be extinct.
Posted by Patrick | 19.11.09, 15:10 GMT
Sadly these brainless freaks will go on to have children of their own and as we all know, anyone who would do that to an animal or bird, would do it to a human - the poor poor children, they dont stand a chance in life and will in all likelihood end up in care. Dont try to understand them - decent people would not be able to get into their mindset.
Posted by Horrified | 19.11.09, 14:27 GMT
These birds are mainly fish, seabird, hare, grouse and carrion eaters and therefore do little or no harm but ignorance has always pervaded society.
Benjibear appears to be ignorant enough not to realise that in all human societies there are the good and the not so good. That is the nature of humans!
Posted by robbo | 19.11.09, 13:58 GMT
How can anyone with a semblance of a brain do something like this - what perverse pleasure do they get?
Posted by Rick Hewitt | 19.11.09, 12:25 GMT
I do not agree with the comment about Afghanistan. As a whole the country is not that bad. As like everywhere it has problems and history - however the vast majority of people are decent.
Posted by Pandy | 19.11.09, 11:33 GMT
I agree with the principle it is wrong to kill these majestic birds. However I do not agree with some of the comments about Northern Ireland. As a whole the country is not that bad. As like everywhere we have our problems and history- however the vast majority of people are decent. If you want to experiance a bad country try Afganastan!!
Posted by Andy | 19.11.09, 11:25 GMT
Really don't understand this. Why would people do this?
Posted by Lucy | 19.11.09, 11:10 GMT
So it's not enough that the monsters who live in this wasteland kill people? Now we must also kill endangered species of animals?
Never in all of History has there been a place like NI....
Posted by BenjiBear | 19.11.09, 09:51 GMT
Complete scum killing such beautiful birds!
Posted by Andy | 19.11.09, 07:47 GMT