Wildlife

Wild Red Kite Future Welfare

The red kite recovery is one of the UK's great conservation success stories, and the welfare of this growing population is broadly positive.

Key Facts

Red kites were restricted to a few dozen Welsh pairs in the 1970s
Reintroductions have established populations across England and Scotland
The UK population now numbers over 10,000 birds
Road mortality and secondary poisoning remain welfare concerns
Illegal poisoning on some estates continues to suppress local populations

Welfare Considerations

Red kites killed by deliberate poisoning or secondary rodenticide die preventably. Despite this, the overall welfare trajectory is highly positive. Ongoing vigilance against poisoning and rodenticide reduction continue to protect welfare.

What You Can Do

Report suspected red kite poisoning to police and RSPB
Support rodenticide reduction campaigns
Join red kite monitoring schemes celebrating this conservation success