A DROP in the number of raptor poisoning incidents in Scotland has been welcomed.
The latest “hotspot map”, released today by the Partnership for Actions Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland, shows just three birds of prey died as a result of poisoning in 2012 a reduction of 70%.
It shows a marked improvement for areas that have previously emerged as the worst for persecution, including Angus and Perthshire.
The Perth-based Scottish Gamekeepers Association welcomed the announcement, pledging to keep up their own efforts to stop poisoning completely.
Chairman Alex Hogg said: “This 70% reduction, on top of a record 42% decline the previous year, is testimony to the hard work done on the issue within PAW Scotland and on the ground.
“As has been mentioned, however, no one can be complacent.”
Douglas McAdam, chief executive of Scottish Land and Estates, and Duncan Orr-Adam, head of species and land management at RSPB Scotland, issued a joint statement saying the report represented the “most substantial” progress made for a number of years.
They said: “Both RSPB Scotland and Scottish Land and Estates are not complacent about this issue, however. and there will be no let-up in our joint efforts to eradicate poisoning and all other forms of wildlife crime.”