White-tailed eagle death the first since legal ban on poison
A total of 77 eagles have been released in Killarney National Park since the eagle restoration programme began in 2007.
Fifteen have been found dead, including nine from confirmed poisoning.
The latest bird to die was one of six females set free last August and was found in the Glencar area after a search of steep hill country.
Tests at the state laboratory in Celbridge, Co Kildare, revealed high concentrations of a veterinary drug in samples sent for analysis. The case is now under investigation by gardaí in Killorglin.
The Kerry Sustainable Rural Environment Group yesterday described the loss of the satellite-tagged bird as “disappointing and worrying”.
Group spokesman Kevin O’Sullivan of Teagasc said they had hoped the recent change in legislation would be the start of a new era of greater protection for eagles and other scavengers. But, he acknowledged they were realistic enough to know that poisoning would not disappear overnight, or simply because laws banning their use had been brought in.
“However, the use of poison is now clearly illegal and its continued use is unacceptable,” he added.
Established during the year, the group is made up of stakeholders in the Kerry rural community, and aims to find consensus on issues that affect rural communities.
Its membership includes the Golden Eagle Trust, representatives of the IFA, ICMSA, Teagasc, gardaí, South Kerry Partnership and the Department of Agriculture.
The group is working on an awareness campaign to highlight the recent legislative changes on poisons. These will include the issuing of leaflets and posters to highlight the threat of poisons to protected birds.
The eagles died after consuming poisoned meat bait of the type that is put out by sheep farmers to kill foxes and crows.
Most of the previous eagle deaths occurred during the lambing season.
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