Wildlife

UK White-Tailed Eagle Reintroduction: Welfare

The white-tailed eagle reintroduction to England and Wales represents a major conservation achievement with welfare implications for both birds and prey species.

Key Facts

White-tailed eagles were extinct in England for over 240 years before reintroduction began in 2019
Multiple release sites in southern England have established breeding attempts within 5 years
White-tailed eagles are the largest raptors in the UK with wingspans up to 2.5 metres
Illegal persecution remains a threat to the newly established population

Welfare Considerations

Reintroduced white-tailed eagles face challenges including persecution, territorial establishment, and finding appropriate food resources. Conservation success requires effective anti-persecution law enforcement, landowner engagement, and monitoring to understand and address welfare challenges facing individual birds.

What You Can Do

Support the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation and other white-tailed eagle reintroduction organisations
Report any suspected raptor persecution to wildlife crime officers
Engage with the evidence on white-tailed eagle ecology and conservation needs