I know there's one or two bad apples but the article mahes out every single gamekeeper kills birds of prey and it's only keepers alone who are responsible for poisoonings
The text is below. The article doesn't claim this at all. However, who else would lay poisoned baits out for raptors? Can you suggest other suspects who might have a motive?
Pets killed by the bird poisoners
PETS are falling victim to a bitter war being waged by
rogue gamekeepers against spectacular birds of prey.
By: Stuart Winter
Published: Sun, March 24, 2013
2Comments
Some 60 dogs have been poisoned by gamekeepers in the last decade
Baits laced with an illegal pesticide to kill eagles, falcons and hawks have left families devastated after their pets were poisoned.
New figures show 60 dogs and 28 cats have been poisoned in the past decade, along with hundreds of rare protected birds of prey, by the hunting and shooting set wanting to protect their game birds. The favourite weapon of
unscrupulous gamekeepers is the poison carbofuran, which is so deadly a quarter of a teaspoon can kill an adult and close contact can cause sterility in men.
Over the past decade more than 250 protected birds such as golden and white-tailed eagles, peregrine falcons, red kites and buzzards have died and there are fears a child could fall victim if they touch bait. Although carbofuran is outlawed, its continued use in the countryside has blown up into a political row. Today the Government is criticised by the Opposition and conservation organisations over ministers’ failure to take wildlife crime seriously.
Critics say that not enough is being done to deter criminals from using carbofuran, nor is there enough support for the National Wildlife Crime Unit which has made bird-of-prey persecution a priority.
A recent MPs’ report on wildlife crime called for tougher penalties for using poisons and “vicarious liability” so landowners as well as gamekeepers are prosecuted if they kill birds of prey.
Peregrine falcons are just some of the protected birds that have been killed
Every year threatened species are killed illegally, putting some species at a great risk. Martin Har¬per, of The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The punishment for using carbofuran is an unlimited fine but there are growing calls for a hefty jail term. Shadow Environment Minister Tom Harris said: “Failing to address the financial insecurity hamstringing the National Wildlife Crime Unit is deeply disappointing.