Despite successful reintroduction, red kites in Wales, England and Scotland continue to be illegally poisoned, causing painful deaths and population setbacks.
Poisoned red kites experience severe neurological symptoms, seizures, paralysis and death over hours to days depending on the poison used. Secondary poisoning from eating poisoned rodents or bait is common. The welfare burden is not only on individual birds but on bonded pairs: survivors show distress and behaviour changes following loss of a mate. Enforcement of wildlife crime law remains inconsistent.