Reintroduced golden eagle poisoned in Ireland

Yahoo News 3 Mar 09;

DUBLIN (AFP) – The Irish government said Tuesday it was considering banning poisoned baits following the death of a golden eagle, a species specially introduced into Ireland.

Environment and Heritage Minister John Gormley expressed his "concern and disgust" about the death of the eagle in County Donegal in northwest Ireland.

"This is not the first case of poisoning of a rare reintroduced bird in Ireland," he said.

"Last year we had incidences in County Kerry (in the southwest) where a white-tailed eagle was also killed after eating poisoned bait.

"I have been concerned since then that our laws regarding the use of poisoned bait are not strong enough, and that a very small number of people have been acting irresponsibly and possibly illegally in this regard."

Gormley said his ministry was drafting proposals to regulate poisoned meat-based bait so it can only be used under licence in exceptional circumstances when there is no alternative.

Farmers use poisoned bait in Ireland against unwanted animals.

Imported golden eagles from Scotland have been set free every year in the Glenveagh national park in Donegal since the project was adopted by the government as a new millennium scheme.

The first eagle chick to be born in the country for almost 100 years hatched out in 2007.

Golden eagles died out in Ireland after they became a popular target in the era of shooting parties on large estates in the 19th century.

Stuffed specimens were a fashionable decorative item in the country's big houses and their eggs were highly prized by collectors.

Golden eagles were last bred in Glenveagh in 1910 and became extinct in Ireland after the last breeding attempt in County Mayo on the west coast in 1912.