Predator or prey? The confounding case of the missing sea eagle
Summary
Police in North Yorkshire are investigating the disappearance of a white-tailed eagle, a large bird of prey reintroduced to England after extinction caused by humans. The bird was tracked by satellite but went missing near grouse shooting estates, where many birds of prey have been harmed in recent years.Key Facts
- Police from the national wildlife crime unit and North Yorkshire police searched the Snilesworth estate for a missing white-tailed eagle.
- The eagle has a wingspan of 2.5 meters and is the UK’s largest bird of prey.
- White-tailed eagles were extinct in England since 1780 due to human persecution but have been reintroduced since 2019 by conservation groups.
- The missing eagle, born in August and satellite-tagged, disappeared after travelling between southern England and northern areas including North Yorkshire.
- The disappearance is considered suspicious, and police have asked the public for information.
- Between 2015 and 2024, 921 incidents of raptor persecution were confirmed in the UK, with over half near land used for game bird shooting.
- In North Yorkshire alone, about 22% of these attacks happened, with birds being shot, poisoned, or trapped.
- The missing eagle’s last known location was close to large grouse shooting estates, areas linked to many bird persecution cases.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.