Golden eagles are iconic apex predators that remain vulnerable in Scotland to illegal persecution, food availability and habitat quality.
Golden eagle welfare is directly compromised by illegal persecution including poisoning and nest disturbance. Individual birds poisoned with agricultural chemicals or illegal baits suffer prolonged agonising deaths. The survivors of persecution campaigns experience food stress as territorial birds are removed and replacement individuals cannot establish. Each individual golden eagle is a decades-long investment of resources and learning, making each untimely death an enormous welfare and conservation loss.