Africa’s vultures are vanishing, according to a new report, posing a potential health risk to humans and livestock, since populations of other scavengers such as rats and jackals could rise as a result. The assessment, carried out by the conservation group BirdLife International, found that six of Africa’s 11 vulture species were at risk of […]
Tag: poisoning
Another 22 elephants poisoned with cyanide in Zimbabwe reserve
Zimbabwean rangers have found the bodies of 22 more elephants that were poisoned with cyanide in the country’s Hwange national park. The grim discovery brings to 62 the number of elephants poisoned by poachers in this southern Africa country in October. Rangers found the carcasses of the elephants in Hwange park’s Sinamatella area on Monday […]
Is the RSPB to blame for the loss of England’s rare hen harriers?
The hen harrier has begun to drag its way back from extinction in England. But according to the grouse industry one organisation is stomping on its claws – the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). On Tuesday, according to the Telegraph, a report by government environment advisory body Natural England was “set to […]
Gamekeeper sentenced for poisoning birds as judge warns landowners
A judge has warned Britain’s rural aristocracy that they must take responsibility for the actions of their employees after a gamekeeper was sentenced for poisoning birds of prey. The RSPB described the killing of 11 birds of prey by Allen Lambert, former gamekeeper at the Stody estate near Holt in Norfolk, as the worst case […]
Let’s Stop Vulture Poisoning Now – Video
BirdLife is fighting to stop vultures from slipping towards extinction. Thanks to everyone that has supported our campaign so far, we are now 79% of the way towards our urgent target of £20,000. Nearly there! But like the vultures in Africa and Europe, we need some more help. So we are launching a video, and asking for your […]
Record £26,000 reward for conviction as raptor deaths in Highlands rise to 19
Rewards totalling £26,000 have been offered by Scottish bird lovers and landowners for the conviction of the perpetrators of one of the UK’s largest mass poisonings of protected birds of prey. The rare alliance between landowners and ornithologists emerged on Wednesday as Police Scotland said the total number of birds killed had increased to 19, […]
Illegal bird deaths continue to rise in UK
Cases of the illegal persecution of British birds are continuing to rise, according to the latest figures from the RSPB. The Birdcrime report, published on Friday, shows there were 208 reports of the shooting and destruction of birds of prey in 2012, including confirmed shootings of 15 buzzards, five sparrowhawks and four peregrine falcons. In […]
Poisonous jellyfish on the rise in the Mediterranean
Scientists across the Mediterranean say a surge in the number of jellyfish this year threatens not just the biodiversity of one of the world’s most overfished seas but also the health of tens of thousands of summer tourists. “I flew along a 300km stretch of coastline on 21 April and saw millions of jellyfish,” said […]