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‘Heart-breaking’
Irish-born eagle shot just months after leaving nest ONE of the first two white-tailed eagles to hatch in the wild in Ireland in a century has been found shot dead. The male bird, which fledged from a nest on the shores of Lough Derg last year, was discovered starved to death near Ballinderry, North Tipperary. Up to 50 shotgun pellets were found in it. Conservation experts involved in reintroducing the majestic raptors to Irish skies said they are shocked by the horrific nature of the shooting and the bird’s slow death, believed to have been from starvation after being shot. It is thought the shotgun blast broke one of its legs and wings, and that it survived for weeks before dying. Gardaí and the National Parks and Wildlife Service are investigating. Dr Allan Mee, project manager of the re-introduction scheme, said it was heart-breaking. ‘It is absolutely incomprehensible that someone would shoot one of these magnificent birds, but even more shocking is that one of the first
by ed carty two Irish-bred eagles has been shot only seven months after leaving the nest,’ he said. Since 100 birds were released from 2007-2011 in Killarney National Park, the number of adult pairs has increased steadily to ten in 2013. But white-tailed eagles reach maturity and begin breeding at about four or five years of age, and a viable population here is dependent on the survival of young Irish-bred eagles. Heritage Minister Jimmy Deenihan, said: ‘So much work has gone into reintroducing this species here and there has been wonderful co-operation by many different groups to achieve successful breeding. To have all this undone is a significant blow.’ The National Association of Regional Game Councils, Ireland’s largest game-shooting group, said it was outraged over the incident.
Up to 50 shotgun pellets in body
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A blow: Project manager Dr Allan Mee (above) holds the dead eagle, which X-rays (left) revealed had some 50 shotgun pellets in its body