SOYMB has previously drawn readers attention to Wildlife minister, Richard Benyon, a millionaire landowner who is strongly associated with shooting interests and owns both a pheasant shoot in Berkshire and a Scottish grouse moor. He has now declined a request from senior MPs to make possession of the poison, carbofuran, a criminal offence – as is the case in Scotland. Carbofuran is a poison used by some to kill protected birds of prey on shooting estates. Carbofuran was used in 50 per cent of confirmed bird of prey poisoning incidents in the UK, with species killed ranging from golden eagles and white-tailed eagles to peregrine falcons. Of the 152 people who have been convicted of offences against birds of prey under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, some 70 per cent were gamekeepers employed on shooting estates.
Dr Mark Avery, former conservation director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said "The minister responsible for protecting wildlife in England does not believe it is worth helping to stamp out the poisoning of birds of prey by making it a clear offence to possess a poison for which there is no legal use in this country. He is certainly the gamekeeper's friend – even if he is not a friend to wildlife."
Dr Mark Avery, former conservation director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said "The minister responsible for protecting wildlife in England does not believe it is worth helping to stamp out the poisoning of birds of prey by making it a clear offence to possess a poison for which there is no legal use in this country. He is certainly the gamekeeper's friend – even if he is not a friend to wildlife."
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