Police are investigating the suspicious disappearance of three white-tailed eagles, including one of the first to fledge in England in centuries. The birds vanished from locations in Sussex, Wales, and Scotland, with their satellite trackers cut off using sharp instruments. The RSPB has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction.
The missing birds include a chick that hatched in the wild in Sussex earlier this year, marking a milestone for the species' reintroduction in England. Conservationists say the trackers were found dumped near the last recorded locations, indicating foul play. In a third case, a tag stopped transmitting on 8 November, with no subsequent sightings.
White-tailed eagles, Britain's largest bird of prey, were driven to extinction in the early 20th century due to persecution. Since 2019, 45 have been released in England through a partnership between the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and Forestry England. Several breeding pairs have formed, with six chicks hatching in the wild for the first time since the 1780s.
Tim Mackrill from the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation expressed devastation over the loss, noting that the chick in Sussex had only just fledged. He said: 'It was devastating to find the stolen and dumped tags... To have that destroyed just a few months later is deeply shocking.'
Three police forces are investigating: Sussex Police, Dyfed Powys Police in Wales, and Police Scotland. The National Wildlife Crime Unit is also involved. Conservationists believe the birds may have been illegally killed due to conflicts with shooting interests, as they are sometimes perceived as a threat to game birds.
