The North Wales Police are appealing for information about rare hen harrier that went missing in Wales after a spate of illegal killings threaten their conservation.
The hen harrier, Circus cyaneus, is endangered with only a handful of breeding pairs left in the UK. ©Lorenzo MagnisA Hen Harrier has suspiciously disappeared in Wales, sparking an appeal for information by The North Wales Police and RSPB.
Illegal killings across the UK have increasingly put hen harriers at risk of extinction by illegal persecution – the direct killing of birds
The RSPB’s Hen Harrier LIFE project is a five year project, ending in 2019 and aims to secure the future of the species. This is the first hen harrier from this project to have gone missing in Wales and could have an impact on future generations.
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Dr. Cathleen Thomas, the project’s manager, said, “It’s incredibly disappointing to lose yet another hen harrier in these circumstances, especially as this bird is so scarce in the UK. We believe the loss of Aalin and other recently tagged hen harriers in the UK is having a devastating impact on their conservation status.”
The female bird, named Aalin, was brought to Wrexham in 2017 by the LIFE project . It was hoped she would raise chicks during the spring.
The red kite, Milvus milvus, like many other birds of prey, is also at risk of illegal persecution. ©kevin championAalin is not the only bird in the UK to have gone missing though. A number of hen harriers have disappeared from locations in England and Scotland, with illegal persecution being the most likely cause. Other species are also at risk, with a large number being poisoned or shot.
“Hen harriers are facing an uncertain future: these spectacular birds should be flourishing in our uplands but studies show that we are down to just a handful of pairs in England with illegal persecution identified as a prime factor,” says Mark Thomas, RSPB Principal Specialist.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Aalin, you can help by calling North Wales Police on 101 quoting the reference WO28466. If you find a wild bird that you suspect was illegally killed, contact RSPB investigations on 01767 680551.