#Lions #WildlifeCrime #Conservation #DNA #AntiPoaching

Image Credit: Stephanie B

Farm 999 - Series 1: 2. Inferno in the Fields and the Fight to Save Badgers Firefighters and farmers tackle Bedfordshire field fires, rescue crews respond to a horse in danger, and Paul Colgan helps volunteers protect wildlife from illegal badger baiters.

Defending Northern Ireland’s Badgers

USPCA Director Siobhan McHaffie joined Badger Group NI on BBC’s Farm 999 to highlight Operation Brockwatch our joint effort to protect badgers.

Watch now on BBC iPlayer: 🔗 buff.ly/FvRmZIX

#BadgerProtection #WildlifeCrime

A great visit to Thailand’s Department of National Parks Wildlife Crime Investigation Centre in Bangkok this week. WildCats Conservation Alliance is proud to support ZSL’s work strengthening Thailand’s response to illegal wildlife trade. #WildlifeCrime #Thailand

Lions Becoming South Africa’s Rhinos: Targeted Poaching of Body Parts Threatens Their Survival A new study reveals the alarming rise in targeted lion poaching across Africa, driven by organised criminal networks and the illegal trade in body parts. Urgent conservation measures are needed to pro...

Conservationists in South Africa are raising the alarm about the targeted poaching of lions for body parts, and the very real risk it poses to the future of this iconic species. #WildlifeCrime
iol.co.za/dailynews/op...

Was ist das überhaupt für eine absolute Kackscheiße?

Ich weiß, ich sollte die Fresse halten, aber warum ist dieser Primat so unfassbar fett?

Und diese ganze Scheiße mit den Erdbeeren, wahrscheinlich aus Spanien heran gekarrt, und diese enorme Menge an sinnloser Verpackung?
#EPICFAIL #WildlifeCrime

Wildlife Matters is calling on the government to keep its commitment to ban snares in England, a long-overdue promise.

Even though Spring Traps, commonly known as "Gin traps," have been illegal since 1958, they are still used today, putting countless animals at risk.
#wildlifecrime

Game-shooting industry’s response to the recent conviction of Perthshire gamekeeper Russell Mason Further to last week’s news that Scottish gamekeeper and convicted sex offender Russell Mason had pleaded guilty to battering a trapped Goshawk to death on a shooting estate in Perthshire, in…

Game-shooting industry's response to the recent conviction of Perthshire gamekeeper Russell Mason ⚖️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime #BirdingScotland 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/23/g...

Ugandan authorities arrested five suspected wildlife traffickers and seized 106 kilograms of elephant ivory in Bukedea District, the Uganda Wildlife Authority said. The suspects will be charged in court. #Uganda #WildlifeCrime

The Wild Can Be A 'Death Trap' For Some Rescued Wildlife Species

#SciComm🧪 by @grrlscientist.bsky.social

#conservation🌏 #WildlifeCrime #IllegalPetTrade🐾 #EndangeredSpecies www.forbes.com/sites/grrlsc...

Convicted Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason – more disturbing details about this case Further to yesterday’s news that Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason, 49, had pleaded guilty to battering a trapped Goshawk to death on a shooting estate in Perthshire (see here), the Daily Rec…

Convicted Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason - more disturbing details about this case.

Crikey! How on earth was he ever considered suitable to hold shotgun/firearms certificates?

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/18/c...

Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason pleads guilty to battering a Goshawk to death on shooting estate in Perthshire A Scottish gamekeeper has pleaded guilty to killing a Goshawk after he battered it to death after it was caught inside a Crow cage trap on a shooting estate in Perthshire. At Perth Sheriff Court th…

Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason pleads guilty to battering a Goshawk to death on a shooting estate in Perthshire ⚖️

Excellent partnership investigation & prosecution by Police Scotland, RSPB, SSPCA, & COPFS 👏

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/17/s...

Trial due to begin tomorrow for Scottish gamekeeper accused of killing a Goshawk on a Perthshire shooting estate A trial is due to begin tomorrow (Tuesday 17 March 2026) at Perth Sheriff Court for a Scottish gamekeeper accused of killing a Goshawk on a Perthshire shooting estate. The alleged incident took pla…

Trial due to begin tomorrow for a Scottish gamekeeper accused of killing a Goshawk on a Perthshire shooting estate.

NB: Comments turned off as criminal proceedings are live ⚖️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/16/t...

Kenya arrests Chinese national over attempt to smuggle 2,000 queen ants The suspect had packed some ants in test tubes while others were concealed in tissue paper rolls, prosecutor says.

🐜🚨 Another case of large-scale wildlife poaching for the international #ExoticPetTrade: Chinese national arrested over attempt to smuggle 2,000 queen ants from #Kenya.

▶️ www.bbc.com/news/article...

#StolenWildlife #WildlifeCrime #WildlifeTrade #conservation
@awionline.org

Kenya arrests Chinese national over attempt to smuggle 2,000 queen ants The suspect had packed some ants in test tubes while others were concealed in tissue paper rolls, prosecutor says.

#ants #wildlifecrime www.bbc.com/news/article...

What’s happened to the police investigation in to the poisoned Hen Harrier found dead on the edge of a grouse moor in North Yorkshire? In December 2025, I blogged about a Hen Harrier that had been found poisoned on a grouse moor somewhere in North Yorkshire, 11 months earlier in January 2025. Hen Harrier (photo by Pete Walkden) Th…

What's happened to the police investigation in to the poisoned Hen Harrier found dead on the edge of a grouse moor in North Yorkshire?

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/10/w...

FUW and Police Highlight Tougher Measures on Livestock Attacks The FUW met with Dyfed-Powys Police and Wales’ Rural and Wildlife Crime Coordinator to discuss protections from dog attacks on livestock.

#farmersunionofwales #livestockattacks #wildlifecrime #RuralandWildlifeCrime

Cape Town man arrested for rhino horn trafficking while boarding flight to Singapore A 52-year-old man was arrested at Cape Town International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Singapore, linked to a significant rhino horn trafficking case that raises concerns about wildli...

South African authorities have arrested a man in connection with possession of rhino horn and lion bones as he was due to board a flight to Singapore. #WildlifeCrime
capeargus.co.za/news/2026-02...

The case of the North Glenbuchat estate - what is the Cairngorms National Park Authority doing to establish who really owns land in the National Park? - parkswatchscotland On 1st April 2022 a new Land Register, the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land (RCI), was created under The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016.  Its intention was to cut through all...

The case of North Glenbuchat estate: What is the Cairngorms National Park Authority doing to establish who owns land in the National Park? | Nick Kempe in Parkswatch Scotland:
#ScottishEnvironment🌱 #Cairngorms #WildlifeCrime #SportingEstates #LandReform

RPUK blog reaches 16th birthday and passes 13 million views Today marks 16 years since this blog started and it has recently passed 13 million views. Thanks, as ever, to everyone who follows the blog and supports its aims. Particular thanks to the generous …

Raptor Persecution UK blog reaches 16th birthday and passes 13 million views.

Thanks to everyone who follows the blog & supports its aims 🙏

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/03/r...

Help Stop the Criminal Killing of Birds of Prey Despite more than 70 years of full legal protection, raptor persecution remains a serious and persistent wildlife crime. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the UK’s worst-affected areas, with 152 confirmed...

Despite more than 70 years of full legal protection, #RaptorPersecution remains a serious and persistent #WildlifeCrime

Please support the call for urgent legal reforms to stop this persecution and add your name to the Petition now:

actionnetwork.org/petitions/he... #wildlife #nature #environment

NatureScot reinstates use of General Licences on Raeshaw Estate during appeal process On 10 February 2026, NatureScot imposed a three-year General Licence restriction on Raeshaw Estate in the Scottish Borders (and on neighbouring Watherston Wood, which is understood to be under sepa…

NatureScot reinstates use of General Licences on Raeshaw Estate during appeal process.

New blog ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/03/n...

Goshawk shot in Derbyshire – police appeal for information Derbyshire Police’s Rural Crime Team has issued an appeal for information after the discovery of a critically-injured Goshawk, which had to be euthanised due to the extent of its injuries. Th…

Goshawk shot in Derbyshire - police appeal for information.

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/26/g...

Australia hands record prison sentence to reptile smuggler in trafficking crackdown The seizure of dozens of live Western blue-tongued lizards, bearded dragons and spiny-tailed skinks covertly packed into popcorn bags, biscuit tins and women’s handbags have led to the longest prison ...

🦎🚨 #Australia is a major target of wildlife traffickers stealing reptiles for the international pet trade - and Europe is a hub & destination... - via @mongabay.com

#StolenWildlife #WildlifeCrime #Biodiversity

▶️ news.mongabay.com/2026/02/aust...,

@ifaweu.bsky.social @nehumanesociety.bsky.social

Three reforms to stop the criminal killing of birds of prey – new petition to UK Minister from Friends of the Dales A new petition has been launched calling on the UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mary Creagh MP) to bring in legal reform to help stop the illegal persecution of birds of prey. The petiti…

Three legal reforms to stop the criminal killing of birds of prey - new petition to UK Minister from @friendsofthedales.bsky.social

Details & link to petition in blog 🔽

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/19/t...

Raeshaw Estate claims General Licence restriction “wholly unjustified” & intends to appeal Following yesterday’s news that NatureScot has imposed a(nother) three-year General Licence restriction on Raeshaw Estate in south Scotland (here), based on evidence provided by Police Scotla…

General Licence restriction imposed in relation to shooting of Golden Eagle 'Merrick'. Raeshaw Estate claims this is "wholly unjustified" & says it will appeal the decision.

Statement from estate & commentary from me 🔽

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/11/r...

Time @NatureScot showed its teeth.
Well done.
NatureScot said decision at Raeshaw Estate & Watherston Wood based on evidence from police of #WildlifeCrime against birds inc disappearance of eagle Merrick in 2023 & golden eagle blood, feathers & shotgun cartridge at same location

Licences to control wild birds have been suspended following golden eagle's disappearance NatureScot has restricted the use of general licences at Raeshaw Estate and Watherston Wood in the Scottish Borders for three years.

Scotland's nature agency has suspended licences to control wild birds from a sporting estate and woodland amid allegations of #WildlifeCrime - which includes the disappearance of a #GoldenEagle feared shot and killed

news.sky.com/story/licenc...

Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to shooting of Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’ NatureScot has today announced a three-year General Licence restriction on Raeshaw Estate (and on neighbouring Watherston Wood, which is understood to be under separate management to Raeshaw), in r…

Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to the shooting of Golden Eagle Merrick.

Statement from NatureScot & commentary from me ⬇️

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/10/t...

More commentary on the sentencing of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall Racster Dingwall, the now former Head Gamekeeper on Conistone and Grassington Estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, pleaded guilty at York Magistrates’ Court last month to conspiring t…

MORE commentary on the sentencing of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall ⚖️

Pertinent points made by the Northern England Raptor Forum (NERF), representing raptor fieldworkers.

#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/02/10/m...

Probe after golden eagle found in Borders with shotgun injuries Four-year-old Hamlet was discovered injured by a gamekeeper on an estate in Stanhope, near Tweedsmuir.

Yet one more.

#WeSeeYou #WildlifeCrime #UKBirding

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...