�Abhorrent� gamekeeper practice threatens species

The number of birds of prey poisoned illegally in Scotland rose to a record high last year after an eight-year campaign by Labour and LibDem ministers to crack down on wildlife crime.

A report to be published this week will reveal there were 39 confirmed cases of pesticide abuse in 2006 involving eagles, red kites, hawks, falcons, owls, buzzards and ravens. That is double the number in 2005 and the highest for 12 years.

The figures have been condemned by wildlife campaigners, who warned that people could end up being killed. The Scottish Executive, however, suggested they showed the success of efforts to detect crimes against nature.

The report, compiled by the Executive'sScottishAgriculturalScience AgencyinEdinburgh,istheofficial barometer of wildlife crime. In 2006, they investigated 177 alleged incidents. In 39 cases they found clear evidence that pesticides had been abused, with a further three cases classified as "misuse". Many other cases were defined as "unknown" or "unspecified" for lack of evidence.

The bird of prey most often poisoned was the buzzard, more than 30 of which were involved in investigations. Ten red kites were also contaminated, as well as five owls, three sparrowhawks, three peregrine falcons and two golden eagles.

Not only birds suffered. At least five foxes, three dogs and three cats died after being contaminated with pesticides.

Incidents came from all over the country, though the highest numbers were in Highland and Borders regions. Several investigations were pursued by the police and the commonest pesticide detected was carbofuran, which is not approved for use in the UK.

According to Logan Steele of the Scottish Raptor Study Groups, it was "abhorrent in this day and age" to have gamekeepers laying out poisoned bait to kill birds and pets. "How long will it be until this practice brings its first human victim?" he asked.

"A tiny amount of poison absorbed through the skin can cause very serious effects. The authorities need to waken up before we have a human fatality. Existing penalties are obviously insufficient and we must now ask sentencing authorities to hand down custodial sentences."

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) pointed out that many incidentswerelikelytohavebeen undetected because they happened in remoteareas."Illegalpoisoningis damaging the populations of some of our most vulnerable bird species as well as robbing the public and tourists," said Duncan Orr-Ewing of RSPB Scotland.

Michael Taylor, head of chemistry at the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, said the 39 confirmed cases of deliberate pesticideabusein2006wereonly equalled by the number in 1994.

"Thesharpincreaseindeliberate abuse incidents over recent years is difficult to attribute to a specific reason," he said. "However, intensive investigations carried out by Scottish Wildlife Crime Officers and partner agencies have had a significant impact on the discovery of suspected poisonings of wildlife."

EnvironmentministerMichael Russell argued that the increase was due to better detection and reporting. "These statistics reflect the very positive actions of police and countryside agencies in tracking down and dealing with the perpetrators," he said.

"Whilst there is an increase, we must stress that the figures reflect a growing awareness of the problems and the willingness of individual members of the public to report these crimes."

It was reported yesterday that police are investigating the suspected poisoningofaredkitefounddeadnear Tomintoul in the Cairngorms last month. A post-mortem examination suggested it had been killed by carbofuran.