Red kites have made a remarkable recovery in the UK following reintroduction, but illegal poisoning remains a welfare and conservation threat.
Red kites killed by poisoning suffer acute toxic death - often involving seizures and organ failure. The recovery of red kites from near-extinction makes every illegal death significant for both welfare and conservation. Effective enforcement of wildlife protection laws and prosecution of poisoners is the key intervention. Reforming rodenticide availability to reduce secondary poisoning is an important complementary measure.