Suspicious Disappearance of Rare Eagles Shocks Wildlife Experts

The reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to England has been dramatically disrupted by the suspicious disappearances of three birds. Two of the eagles, including a chick representing the first wild-born generation in centuries, have vanished, with their satellite tags found deliberately cut off near their last known locations. The third eagle's tracker has ceased transmitting data, and no sightings have been reported.

Authorities are now appealing for public assistance as police forces in Sussex, Dyfed Powys, and Scotland investigate the incidents. In one case, a tag was recovered from the River Rother in Sussex, while another was found hidden on remote moorland in Wales. Concerns are also growing for a third eagle whose tag stopped transmitting in the Moorfoot Hills, south of Edinburgh.

These magnificent raptors, once eradicated by the 18th century, were reintroduced to the Isle of Wight in 2019. The project has seen success with breeding pairs and wild chicks, but these recent events threaten the program's long-term viability. Previous incidents in 2022 involving deceased eagles found with rat poison have also prompted investigations.