Man charged with killing Eurasian Goshawk on Scottish estate

A man has been charged with killing a Eurasian Goshawk on a Scottish estate.

Officers from Police Scotland, alongside partners from the SSPCA and RSPB, carried out a search warrant on an estate near Blairgowrie on Thursday 29 February.

Following the search, police arrested and charged a 47-year-old man with killing a Eurasian Goshawk, which is a protected species. Police said the incident took place on 12 February 2024 and that a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

The Eurasian Goshawk is thought to have been killed on 12 February (Mike Warburton).

Illegal activity

Police Scotland Wildlife Crime co-ordinator, DS David Lynn, commented: "Police Scotland will pursue anyone deliberately targeting Scotland wildlife. This multi-agency day of action shows our collective commitment to safeguarding Scotland's wild animals."

It is not the first time Perthshire has been in the spotlight over illegal bird killings. In 2017, Scottish Natural Heritage released details of restrictions imposed on the use of General Licenses on an estate in the county. At the time, Ian Thomson, RSPB Scotland's Head of Investigations, said: "This part of Perthshire has had an appalling history of raptor persecution."

Last year in Scotland, police evidence of wildlife crime on an Angus estate led to the restriction of licences for three years, and a Golden Eagle thought to be from the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project was found dead on an estate in Dumfries and Galloway.