Wild Animals

Wild Red Kite Recovery Story

Red kites were reduced to a tiny Welsh population by the early 20th century and have made a remarkable recovery through legal protection and reintroduction, now numbering over 4,000 UK breeding pairs.

Key Facts

Red kites were absent from England and Scotland for 200 years before reintroduction began in 1989
94 birds from Spain and Sweden were released across six UK sites between 1989 and 1994
The UK population has grown from near-extinction to over 10,000 birds
Red kites are still illegally poisoned and shot, particularly in parts of Scotland

Welfare Considerations

Red kites face welfare threats from deliberate persecution including poisoned bait intended for foxes and crows. Secondary rodenticide poisoning is increasingly prevalent. Lead poisoning from scavenging shot game carcasses affects red kites and other scavenging raptors. Illegal killings disrupt pairs and family groups, causing breeding disruption for survivors.

What You Can Do

Use non-toxic steel or bismuth shot when shooting game animals
Report suspected red kite persecution to the RSPB and police
Avoid feeding kites in areas near game management estates
Support the RSPB's Hen Harrier LIFE project that also covers other persecuted raptors