Mar 10
3
Revulsion over death of Conall, the Donegal Golden Eagle chick
A young Irish eagle chick
There has been widespread revulsion over the news of the death of a Donegal Glenveagh National Park Golden Eagle chick in recent days, after tests proved that the chick recovered from Truskmore mountain on the Sligo/Leitrim border had been poisoned.
Cliona O’Brien, Wildlife Office, The Heritage Council said today that he deplored the death of the Irish born golden eagle chick.
“The Heritage Council deplores the recent death of Conall, the golden eagle chick that died as a result of poisoning. The Golden Eagle Reintroduction Project (along with that of the Red Kite and the Sea Eagle) could be considered one of Ireland’s flagships efforts to restore and protect our natural heritage.
“It is heartbreaking to see such efforts falter, particularly as we mark 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity.
“The Heritage Council would urge relevant state agencies and Departments, farming organisations and farming media to renew their energies in educating farmers of the wider implications and illegality of using poison meat baits for bird control. The use of poisons are also having a detrimental impact on other species such as the red kite and the barn owl – as the barn owl population declines so too does its ability to help the farmer in keeping rodents at bay.
“Such poisons are also dangerous to human health if accidentally ingested- particularly children. Time is of the essence if the golden eagle, and other birds of prey, are to remain soaring in our skies.”
