Wildlife

UK Red Kite Conservation: Welfare Success Story

The red kite reintroduction programme is one of the UK's greatest conservation success stories, with welfare implications for a formerly extinct breeding species.

Key Facts

Red kites were extinct as a breeding bird in England and Scotland by the 20th century
Reintroduction began in the Chilterns in 1989 and Wales has always had a small population
The UK population now exceeds 10,000 breeding pairs
Secondary poisoning from rodenticides remains the leading anthropogenic threat

Welfare Considerations

Reintroduced red kites face ongoing threats from illegal poisoning, lead ammunition ingestion, and secondary rodenticide toxicity. Conservation success requires continued vigilance and legal protection enforcement.

What You Can Do

Never use banned rodenticides that can enter the food chain
Report suspected illegal poisoning of raptors to the RSPB and police
Support organisations monitoring and protecting reintroduced red kite populations