Gamekeepers dispute RSPB golden eagle trap claims

By FRANK URQUHART 

Published on Tuesday 26 February 2013 10:56

THE Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association is challenging claims that an iconic golden eagle suffered an “appalling and lingering” death after its legs were broken in an illegally-set spring trap.

RSPB investigators claimed the eagle, which had been fitted with a satellite transmitter, was left unable to fly after its legs were smashed by a trap set on a remote hillside on an unidentified estate in the Angus glens and was deliberately moved ten miles to a site on Royal Deeside, where it took up to five days to die.

The body of the golden eagle was found on 5 May last year near a lay-by on a minor road between Aboyne and Banchory in Aberdeenshire. And the RSPB posted a £1,000 reward for information leading to a successful prosecution of those responsible for the “appalling crime.”

But today, in an unprecedented move, the organisation which represents 5300 gamekeepers, stalkers, and ghillies in Scotland, has issued its own report into the death of the young raptor, claiming there is no evidence that the golden eagle was the victim of a wildlife crime.

A spokesman for the SGA said: “Despite being part of a live investigation, the RSPB went to the press four months after the eagle was found, stating the bird had been caught in illegally set traps.

“Police did not find evidence to support this theory and a report by a vet suggested that the injuries were only ‘consistent’ with those which might have been caught in a trap.

“By gathering detailed knowledge from those conversant with the operation and strength of the traps suggested, our report describes this assertion as ‘highly improbable’. Similarly, a lack of substantive evidence was found to back RSPB claims the bird had been moved and left to die under a tree where it suffered a ‘lingering death.’”

‘Sufficient dubiety’

The spokesman continued: “The SGA promised to conduct its own inquiry into this case because it felt there was sufficient dubiety in the version of events put forward through the media.

Continued:  http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/gamekeepers-dispute-rspb-golden-eagle-trap-claims-1-2810443

PB Scotland responds to Scottish Gamekeepers Association eagle report

February 2013. On 5th May 2012 a Golden eagle, fitted with a satellite transmitter, was found after signals sent by the transmitter indicated that the bird had not moved for several days. The body was found, lying face down, with its wings folded, under a tree branch, close to a lay-by on a quiet country road near Aboyne, and was seized as evidence by officers from Grampian police.

The carcass was then taken for a post mortem at the Scottish Agricultural College laboratory in Aberdeen. This concluded that the bird had suffered two broken legs due to trauma that could be consistent with an injury caused by a spring type trap.

The Scottish Game Keepers Association has issued a statement implying that the RSPB had made the evidence fit the crime that they were looking for. The SGA stated "Police did not find evidence to support this theory and a report by a vet suggested that the injuries were only ‘consistent' with those which might have been caught in a trap.

RSPB response
Responding to the statement released by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of Species and Land Management at RSPB Scotland, said: "We reject absolutely these unprofessional assertions of the SGA concerning the case of the dead golden eagle found on Deeside in May 2012. Our previous media statement followed proper discussion and approval from the police, and was in full accordance with our joint working protocol. The official post mortem report concluded that the bird had suffered two broken legs due to trauma "that could be consistent with an injury caused by a spring type trap" and that the severity of these injuries "would prevent the bird from being able to take off."

This is a rather desperate statement from the SGA, which seemingly does more to reveal their true nature as apologists for the worst types of wildlife crime, as they try to defend the indefensible. Indeed, it calls into question their very commitment to the aims and objectives of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAWS).

The illegal killing of golden eagles in Scotland is still a serious conservation issue, undermining the health of their population, and bringing international shame to our country. Over the past few years there have been a number of appalling cases involving the criminal killing of golden eagles, some of which have only come to light following the use of satellite tag technology. Rather than seeking excuses, we believe that the Scottish Gamekeepers Association's efforts would be better directed at tackling those within their sector who still encourage such outdated practices".

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/sga-rspb.html