The white-tailed eagle was extirpated from England and Wales by 1918 and Scotland by 1918 due to human persecution. Successful reintroduction programs have re-established breeding populations in Scotland and are underway in England.
Reintroduced white-tailed eagles face ongoing threats from illegal persecution including poisoning and shooting. Birds affected by secondary poisoning from rodenticides show neurological symptoms before death. Eagles shot or trapped suffer acute injury before death or rescue. The illegal killing of protected species represents both a legal offense and a welfare crime. Successful reintroduction depends on securing tolerance from local communities and landowners through engagement, education, and evidence-based management of genuine conflicts. Each reintroduced individual represents significant conservation investment and their individual welfare is therefore particularly important.