Scottish Land and Estates and Buccleuch Estates today issued an appeal following reports that a satellite-tag attached to a bird in the south of Scotland has stopped working.
Transmission from the tag ceased in late January and a search of land by Police Scotland in the last known location found no trace of the bird or the satellite tag.
Anna Fergusson, estate manager, at Buccleuch’s Queensberry Estate, said: “We were informed that the satellite tag had stopped transmitting over our land and our gamekeeping staff have assisted the police in trying to establish what happened.
“If anyone has any further information, they should contact Police Scotland. There is nothing to suggest that the bird came to harm at the last point of transmission. The location was not used for any form of shooting around that time and the estate takes it responsibilities in terms of animal welfare very seriously.”
Sarah Jane Laing, chief executive, Scottish Land & Estates, which represents land businesses, added: “ We support this appeal for information as the welfare of Scotland’s growing eagle population is important. This may well be a case of a satellite tag malfunction but it would be helpful to understand the full circumstances.”
