White-tailed eagles, the largest birds of prey in England, are set to return to Exmoor after more than two centuries. Once widespread across the country, these majestic raptors were driven to extinction in southern England by persecution and habitat loss, with the last breeding pair recorded in 1780. Modern reintroduction programmes have reversed this trend, bringing the enormous predators back to the skies.
Reintroduction project details
The Exmoor project will complement an existing programme on the Isle of Wight, which began in 2019. Up to 20 young eagles will be released from the Exmoor site over three years, with releases occurring at both locations this summer. The goal is to link the Isle of Wight population with the open moorland, woodlands, and hills of Exmoor National Park, which straddles west Somerset and north Devon.
Historic habitat and progress
The species once bred along the Exmoor coastline and has routinely visited the area in recent years. The region provides ideal habitat for eagles that hunt along coastlines and large bodies of water. The project is led by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, which have released 45 young white-tailed eagles on the Isle of Wight. Four pairs have formed territories along the south coast, with the first successful breeding in 2023 producing the first wild chick in England for over 240 years. Since then, five more wild chicks have hatched.
Expert and official comments
Roy Dennis, founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, said: “White-tailed eagles were once a common sight in England but were lost centuries ago. This project is reversing that situation, and I am delighted that we will be able to release additional birds this year and boost their numbers in the wild.” Stephen Egerton-Read from Forestry England added that returning this lost species is “a key part of restoring biodiversity and supporting nature recovery.” He noted that seven years into the project, birds have begun to successfully return, forming pairs, establishing territories, and breeding. “Adding additional releases at Exmoor will help to boost their numbers and continue their spread across southern England,” he said.
Government support and economic benefits
The reintroduction of white-tailed eagles is a key priority in the government’s 25-year environment plan. The announcement follows Defra’s pledge of £90 million to safeguard hundreds of England’s most threatened native wildlife from extinction, including exploring the reintroduction of golden eagles. In Scotland, where white-tailed eagles were successfully reintroduced in the 1970s, concerns persist among farmers about predation on lambs, as lamb remains are often found in eagle nests. However, it is difficult to determine whether the eagles routinely kill lambs or scavenge them as carrion.
Public interest and monitoring
Despite historical persecution by landowners, farmers, and gamekeepers, public interest in the return of these indigenous birds is high. A 2022 RSPB report found that white-tailed eagles contribute between £4.9 million and £8 million annually in tourist spending on the Isle of Mull alone. Natural England stated that the implementation of the new licence allowing releases in Exmoor will be closely monitored.
