Home / Environment / Rare Hen Harrier Vanishes in Bird Persecution Hotspot
Rare Hen Harrier Vanishes in Bird Persecution Hotspot
25 Jun
Summary
- Satellite tag of a hen harrier found severed on Ruabon Moor.
- RSPB labels the Welsh moorland a 'Bermuda Triangle' for birds.
- Police investigate the disappearance as intentional and suspicious.
A rare hen harrier has disappeared under highly suspicious circumstances from Ruabon Moor in Wales, an area conservationists describe as a "Bermuda Triangle" for birds of prey. The three-month-old bird, tagged by the RSPB after fledging from the Peak District, vanished just three days after arriving on the moorland. Investigations by North Wales Police revealed the bird's satellite tag harness had been intentionally severed.
Conservationists suspect the bird was shot, its tag removed, and its body disposed of separately to avoid detection. This incident adds to a concerning pattern on Ruabon Moor, which is known for red grouse and has seen multiple hen harriers go missing or have their tags fail. Hen harriers are a protected species in Wales, and incidents involving them are taken very seriously under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The RSPB has submitted evidence to environmental regulators, calling for oversight of the grouse-shooting industry. While organizations like the British Association for Shooting and BASC have stated a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal killing of birds of prey, the ongoing disappearances highlight a persistent problem.
