In responding to the publication of the RSPB Birdcrime report 2019, BASC has reiterated its public condemnation of raptor persecution and support for a ‘zero tolerance’ approach that is seeing success.
Caroline Bedell, BASC’s executive director of conservation, said: “BASC condemns all wildlife crime and is a joint signatory to a zero tolerance statement on raptor persecution. BASC’s aim is to work towards seeing a sustainable population of birds of prey in the UK. Our aim is closer to fruition than the RSPB make out.
“A record-breaking year of breeding hen harriers across England and significant increases in breeding birds of prey in the Peak District support out claim that positive progress is being made.
“Confirmed cases continue to be minimal and populations of birds of prey are on the rise. It’s also worth noting that the RSPB recently itself admitted that raptor persecution is committed by a tiny minority of the shooting community; it would be helpful for the relationship between the RSPB and the rural community if they provided that perspective when publishing reports like this.”
