Wildlife Welfare

Wildlife Welfare: Red Kite Recovery and Ongoing Threats

Red kites have made one of Britain's most successful conservation recoveries following reintroduction, but illegal poisoning, lead exposure, and persecution continue to threaten individuals.

Key Facts

Red kites were reintroduced to England and Scotland from Welsh stock in the 1990s
The UK population has grown from fewer than 60 breeding pairs in 1989 to over 6,000 pairs
Illegal poison bait targeting foxes and corvids kills kites as non-target casualties
Lead poisoning from ingested rifle bullet fragments affects kites feeding on carcasses
Kites are highly adaptable scavengers benefiting from garden feeding in some areas

Welfare Considerations

Individual red kites continue to suffer and die from illegal poisoning and lead exposure despite population recovery. Poisoning deaths involve significant suffering through neurological damage and paralysis. Monitoring and prosecution of wildlife crime alongside the transition to lead-free ammunition protect individual kites from preventable suffering.

What You Can Do

Report suspected raptor persecution to wildlife crime units
Advocate for lead-free ammunition to protect scavenging raptors
Support wildlife monitoring schemes that detect poisoning events