Wildlife crime still a hazard to threatened birds
News from the RSPB site
After 25 years of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the RSPB's latest report shows that wildlife crime is still a serious hazard for some of our most threatened species.
In the 25th year of the Wildlife and Countryside Act gaining Royal Assent, a report on bird-related crimes across the UK in 2006, published by the RSPB, shows that wildlife crime is still a significant hazard to some of our most threatened birds.
The Society's latest Birdcrime report shows 1,109 reported incidents relating to wild birds in 2006, more than a 50 per cent increase on the previous year (726 incidents). However, investigators at the RSPB believe the increase in reported figures partially as a direct result of improved procedures for recording wildlife crimes, particularly aided by the creation of the National Wildlife Crime Unit in 2006.
Of particular concern is the number of crimes against birds of prey. Data from the report identifies three counties which are the worst in England for reported persecution of birds. There were 12 reported cases of persecution against birds of prey in Derbyshire, 11 in North Yorkshire and 10 in Northumberland.
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