Environment Minister Edwin Poots has accepted a petition signed by more than 200,000 people demanding an end to the killing of birds of prey. The petition is the largest ever collected by the RSPB.
 
Dr James Robinson, RSPB NI's Director, handed the petition to the Minister with a striking set of images of birds of prey that have suffered persecution.
 
Most birds of prey are recovering in number since the days when they all but vanished because of persecution and poisoning from pesticides like DDT. As well as legal protection, the birds’ recovery has been helped enormously by the efforts of many conservationists, landowners and gamekeepers. Yet, illegal activity remains a very real threat in some parts of the country. In 2008, the RSPB received more than 200 reports of birds of prey being shot, poisoned and trapped in the UK.
 
The Society has been calling for a review of the way crimes against wildlife are dealt with by the police and courts in England and Wales. A similar review has already been carried out in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, the National Wildlife Crime Unit has identified bird of prey crime as a priority for intelligence gathering and this work is starting through partnership between the PSNI, government departments and conservation and countryside charities.

Read more here: RSPB