Wild Red Kite Poisoning and Recovery

Red kites recovered from extinction in England and Wales following reintroduction, but illegal poisoning remains a welfare threat.

Key Facts

Red kites were reintroduced to England from Wales in 1989 and Scotland in 1989
The UK population now exceeds 4,000 pairs - a remarkable conservation success
Illegal poisoning using alpha-chloralose, carbofuran, and other banned substances remains a leading cause of mortality
Illegal persecution is concentrated in upland areas with intensive grouse management
Satellite-tagged kites provide data on mortality causes and persecution hotspots
England's kite population is now self-sustaining but persecution prevents recovery in some areas

Welfare Considerations

Red kite poisoning causes agonising death through neurotoxins and anticoagulants. The scale of illegal persecution in some landscapes prevents population establishment despite favourable habitat. Robust enforcement, wildlife crime prosecution, and land management accountability are essential welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Report dead or dying red kites to the police and RSPB raptor persecution reporting line
Support RSPB investigations team and Wildlife Crime Unit raptor protection work
Donate to the Red Kite Appeal and reintroduction organisations
Advocate for wildlife crime to be treated as seriously as other environmental crime
Support vicarious liability legislation to hold landowners accountable for wildlife crimes