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Concern of ‘criminal activity’ after sudden disappearance of golden eagle

Online Niel November 13, 2024

Concerns have been raised about criminal activity in the Cairngorms after the sudden disappearance of a golden eagle.

The bird was fitted with a satellite tag while on its nest in 2022 and transmitted as expected until May 2024, when it suddenly went offline.

Its last known location was an area of moorland in the Angus Glens, where there was a long history of illegal persecution of birds of prey.

Details from the bird’s tag were provided to police before officers, the National Wildlife Crime Unit and RSPB Scotland searched the area but found no trace of the bird or its tag.

The RSPB believes the bird has been killed or destroyed.

The disappearance is the latest incident in the “raptor crime hotspot” after an osprey was found shot in the Glen Doll area on August 12 – the opening day of grouse shooting season.

Earlier in the year, a satellite-tagged hen disappeared under similar circumstances to the golden eagle.

It is a crime to kill a bird of prey, anyone caught faces a fine or imprisonment.

Legislation introduced in March 2024 means that any illegal activity discovered taking place on a moor could result in the loss of its license to operate.

Will Hayward, Senior Investigations Officer RSPB Scotland, said: “The sudden cessation of transmissions from this tag strongly suggests human interference and reflects a pattern of marked birds ‘disappearing’ almost exclusively on or near moorland which has become all too apparent in recent years. .

“If this bird had died of natural causes or if the tag had come off, we could find it and retrieve it.

“Given the well-proven reliability of this technology, when no body or tag is found, this is highly suspicious. We believe this bird was killed and the tag destroyed.”

If you notice a dead or injured bird of prey under suspicious circumstances, call Police Scotland on 101 and complete the RSPB’s online reporting form: www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/wild-bird-crime-report-form/

If you have information about someone killing birds of prey that you would like to report anonymously, call the RSPB’s confidential raptor crime line at 0300 999 0101.