Warning after killing of rare hen harrier in the Forest of Bowland

9:18am Monday 10th December 2012 in News

The hen harrier The hen harrier

THE UK’s largest shooting organisation, has condemned the illegal killing of a rare hen harrier.

The bird, fledged on land managed for shooting in the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire in 2011 and satellite-tagged, was discovered shot dead on a moor in North Yorkshire. A police investigation into the incident is now underway.

British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), director of communications Christopher Graffius said: “BASC unreservedly condemns this crime and urges anyone who shoots who may have any information to come forward and assist the police.

“Anyone shooting a protected species damages shooting and the countryside and has no place among the law-abiding shooting community.

“BASC would have no hesitation in expelling any member guilty of such a crime.”

The Forest of Bowland is the UK’s only home of nesting hen harriers and there are only a handful of breeding pairs living there.

BASC works closely with conservation bodies, statutory organisations and the police to reduce wildlife crime including the persecution of birds of prey.

The conservation status of hen harriers in the UK is red-listed by the British Trust for Ornithology.

Anyone who may have information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.

Comments (3)

11:06am Mon 10 Dec 12

hasslem hasslem says...

the bird is extremely rare and a protected species and is only being shot because it is catching (for its own consumption) grouse and the like that the shooting of is an expensive pastime for those that wear a load of tweed and drive range rovers.

this is a despicable act and will probably go unpunished. the very people that will have shot it are the ones that claim they are protecting the rural landscape and its ecosystem.
the bird is extremely rare and a protected species and is only being shot because it is catching (for its own consumption) grouse and the like that the shooting of is an expensive pastime for those that wear a load of tweed and drive range rovers. this is a despicable act and will probably go unpunished. the very people that will have shot it are the ones that claim they are protecting the rural landscape and its ecosystem. hasslem hasslem

1:48pm Mon 10 Dec 12

BuckoTheMoose says...

hasslem hasslem wrote:
the bird is extremely rare and a protected species and is only being shot because it is catching (for its own consumption) grouse and the like that the shooting of is an expensive pastime for those that wear a load of tweed and drive range rovers.

this is a despicable act and will probably go unpunished. the very people that will have shot it are the ones that claim they are protecting the rural landscape and its ecosystem.
You better have something to back up that statement, like proof.

These people are protecting the rural landscape and what is your issue with tweed and land rovers? Don't like them? Don't drive / wear them.
[quote][p][bold]hasslem hasslem[/bold] wrote: the bird is extremely rare and a protected species and is only being shot because it is catching (for its own consumption) grouse and the like that the shooting of is an expensive pastime for those that wear a load of tweed and drive range rovers. this is a despicable act and will probably go unpunished. the very people that will have shot it are the ones that claim they are protecting the rural landscape and its ecosystem.[/p][/quote]You better have something to back up that statement, like proof. These people are protecting the rural landscape and what is your issue with tweed and land rovers? Don't like them? Don't drive / wear them. BuckoTheMoose

1:10pm Wed 26 Dec 12

RFowler says...

hasslem hasslem,

These people (gamekeepers) are protecting the rural landscape and its wildlife. Raptor persecution cases have been in decline for a few years, and it is only a tiny minority of keepers who kill protected raptors. Don't try to smear all gamekeepers on the actions of a few. There is an exception to every rule, and in this case, the rule is that shooting benefits wildlife conservation. Even the government recognises the benefits it brings.
hasslem hasslem, These people (gamekeepers) are protecting the rural landscape and its wildlife. Raptor persecution cases have been in decline for a few years, and it is only a tiny minority of keepers who kill protected raptors. Don't try to smear all gamekeepers on the actions of a few. There is an exception to every rule, and in this case, the rule is that shooting benefits wildlife conservation. Even the government recognises the benefits it brings. RFowler

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