16.03.10
A blight on the industry
A total of 27 birds of prey were found poisoned in Scotland in 2009, including 19 buzzards, four red kites and two golden eagles. The previous year had seen a drop in the number of incidents to 16.
The latest information was published by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) of which the Scottish Gamekeepers Association is a committed member.
SGA Chairman Alex Hogg condemned what he described as "appalling statistics".
He added: "There is no place for raptor persecution in modern land management and the vast majority of gamekeepers and wildlife managers abide by these views. Our organisation does not tolerate it any more than society at large and is committed to doing all it can to stamp it out.
"Today's statistics are a massive setback but we will increase our efforts to spread the message and work alongside other PAW partners."
The figures were also condemned by the Scottish Government's Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham who said the protection of Scotland's wildlife had never before occupied such a prominent position politically or in terms of the law.
"This continued persecution of our precious wildlife is simply incomprehensible," she added.