Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
Rare bird reintroduced after 200 years shot dead
Monday, 8 September 2008
enlargeAn endangered bird of prey reintroduced to Northern Ireland after a 200-year absence has been found shot dead, it emerged yesterday.
The body of the red kite was discovered in a field near Castlewellan in Co Down, the police confirmed.
The bird was one of 27 kites released by the RSPB in the region in July at the start of a three-year reintroduction programme.
Wing tags and an identifying leg ring had been removed from the four-month old bird before it was recovered by the RSPB.
Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB’s director of conservation, said: “We are shocked and angered by the senseless killing of one of the recently released red kites.
“These magnificent birds were neither a threat to humans nor livestock, so we can only assume that whoever did this was either ignorant or gets a perverse sense of enjoyment from killing birds of prey.
“We believe that there will be much anger not only in Northern Ireland but right across the UK.
“Red kites are a globally threatened species and their reintroduction became a celebration of the return of an iconic species to Northern Ireland.”
Red kites were hunted to extinction in Ireland over 200 years ago.
Dr Avery added: “RSPB Northern Ireland had been working tremendously hard behind the scenes for a number of years to get the Red Kite Reintroduction Project off the ground, and we are determined to see it succeed.
“The message needs to be sent out that these birds should be a treasured addition to our countryside and not a target for illegal shooting.”
Primary school pupils were to have been offered the chance to track the life of the bird through the RSPB’s Adopt A Kite initiative.
PSNI Constable Alex Beck said: “Wildlife crime is taken seriously by the PSNI, and its significance cannot be underestimated.
“Red Kites, like all wild birds, are protected by law under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. As such, any person involved in this type of crime could find themselves subject to a report to the Public Prosecution Service.”
- Text Size
Oh such righteous indignation! Jack may be an ass, but there is a more serious message....a bunch of murderous terrorist thugs, armed to the teeth and professing to be the protectors of the protestant people of Northern Ireland (aka the Ulster Defence Association) have never given up their terrorist weapons, even though their professed enemies, namely the IRA, have long since done so. Human lives are at risk and you people should be as at least as outraged about the potential violence feared by Catholics in Northern Ireland as about the death of a beautiful bird
Posted by Terry, London | 14.09.08, 14:48 GMT
Just proves that stupidity and wanton killing of innocence creatures is a worldwide phenomenon.
Posted by Lyn | 09.09.08, 00:38 GMT
Its not just a bird, its part of our world that is missing, it would be wonderful to have back!!! I now live in the North West of America, where I get to some of the most amazing birds flying in the sky, everytime I see a bald eagle or a kite swooping down, its remarkable and special. The last time I was home in NI, I saw a hawk flying in the Drumbo area, it was amazing how one bird made the whole landscape seem more vibrant.
Its unfortunate that our generation has lost so much persepective on the natural world we live within. Maybe all that Jack and Adam need to see is how it was before much of our wonderful indigenous wildlife were killed off. That is not likely to happen if people are shooting newly released birds. Very Sad!
Posted by stuart | 08.09.08, 21:04 GMT
Jack such an immature comment, was it supposed to be a funny gesture????
Find some other means to spend your time if thats what you can comment on relating to wildlife crime!
Posted by Andrew | 08.09.08, 18:48 GMT
wow it's only a bird 1 out of 27 im sure the rest are ok! or maybe we have a serial bird killer on the go! he must be stopped!! jack- lol
Posted by adam | 08.09.08, 18:43 GMT
Santa: "it is no wonder our youth are turning to crime or suicide".
Whichever mindless imbecile was responsible for slaughtering this beautiful bird has ALREADY turned to crime. Having said that, I am by no means certain it was a youth who carried out this mindless slaughter.
Posted by Centaur | 08.09.08, 18:15 GMT
Jack - you are a facetious fool. You are not funny. As for the person who shot this bird - no, I can't even imagine such a person. They are beneath humanity.
Posted by Kevin | 08.09.08, 17:43 GMT
What scum we have living here.
Posted by Joe Murray | 08.09.08, 16:32 GMT
I told you the UDA should have decommissioned their weapons
Posted by Jack | 08.09.08, 13:17 GMT
Is anyone surprised?
I have lived in many places around the world and the animal
cruelty here is as high and as brutal as any I have seen.
It is not just ignorance. It is the way people are taught to think.
Vicious, mean-spirited and utterly devoid of sympathy for our shared natural world.
In place before the Peace it has been encouraged since.
It is a joke in bad taste when the tourist 'industry' touts for business through advertising Northern Ireland's natural beauty.
If you are brave enough, I suggest that you had better come here soon - before what little is left is built over, poisoned or shot.
Faced, again and again with the untouchable brutality and corruption in the corridors of power that allow such atrocities, it is no wonder our youth are turning to crime or suicide.
Posted by Sarita | 08.09.08, 11:26 GMT