Wildlife Welfare

Wild Red Kite 2026 Final

UK red kite welfare in 2026 reflects one of conservation's great success stories, with populations recovering across England and Wales. Rodenticide poisoning and illegal killing remain welfare challenges.

Key Facts

UK red kite population exceeded 10,000 birds in 2026 across England, Wales, and Scotland
English red kites have expanded to most counties from multiple reintroduction sources
Secondary rodenticide poisoning continues to cause welfare suffering and mortality
Illegal intentional poisoning incidents are still recorded despite legal protection
Community engagement with red kite recolonisation has improved in many areas

Welfare Considerations

Red kite welfare in 2026 reflects a remarkable conservation recovery that has delivered welfare benefits to thousands of individual birds. The recovery provides evidence that sustained conservation effort can transform welfare outcomes at population scale. Remaining welfare challenges from rodenticide poisoning and occasional illegal killing require continued effort to fully resolve.

What You Can Do

Support red kite conservation and monitoring programmes
Report suspected kite poisoning to RSPB Investigations
Advocate for stronger restrictions on rodenticide use to protect kites and other raptors