Wildlife

Wild Red Kite: Poisoning Prevention and Population Recovery

Red kites recovered from near-extinction in the UK through reintroduction, but illegal poisoning remains a persistent welfare threat.

Key Facts

Red kites were reintroduced to England and Scotland from Wales starting in 1989
UK red kite population now exceeds 4,000 breeding pairs
Illegal poisoning using carbofuran and other pesticides remains the primary human-caused mortality
Kites killed by poison suffer prolonged, painful deaths from seizures and organ failure

Welfare Considerations

Illegal poisoning causes extreme suffering in individual birds. Despite legal protection, secondary poisoning from rodenticide-killed prey and deliberate illegal baiting continue to kill hundreds of kites annually. Enforcement and public reporting are essential deterrents.

What You Can Do

Report suspected illegal poisoning to RSPB Investigations or the police
Never use illegal poisons in fields, gardens, or on game estates
Support RSPB's Investigations team tackling bird of prey persecution