AssetID: 53254940
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Detectives Hunt For Missing Scottish Golden Eagle After 'Suspicious' Disappearance
Caption: These videos show: Golden eagles similar to Merrick being released. Conservationists in Scotland have been left heartbroken as a much-loved golden eagle reintroduced to the south of the country has gone missing. Police are hunting for the missing female, named Merrick after a Scottish Peak, who was last seen in the Fountainhall area of the Scottish Borders region on 12 October 2023. Unfortunately, detectives, “believe the bird has come to harm and are treating its disappearance as suspicious.” Appealing for more information, they added: “We are determined to protect these magnificent birds. We work closely with a number of partners to tackle wildlife crime, which can be challenging and complex to investigate.” Since 2018, when the first eaglets arrived at custom-built aviaries sited at a confidential location in Scotland’s Southern Uplands, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has translocated birds with a view to boosting the small, isolated and vulnerable population of Golden Eagles in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. The news of Merrick’s disappearance has therefore been a devastating moment for locals and those trying to restore the raptors - especially as she had been thriving in her new home. Responding to the news, the Project’s Chair, Dumfriesshire farmer Michael Clarke said: “The disappearance of any golden eagle is extremely upsetting, but particularly when there is evidence to suggest that they have come to harm under suspicious circumstances. The project’s translocated eagles have captured the hearts and minds of many people, including children, who will all share in our utter shock, disappointment, and sadness at the nature of Merrick’s disappearance.” He added that “tens of thousands” of people in the local community had invested hopes in restoring the golden eagle population and that it is, “devastating to learn that she may have come to harm at the hands of someone who has disregarded the legal protection of the bird”. Merrick’s disappearance comes after a period in which South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project staff and volunteers have successfully quadrupled the area’s population of golden eagles from a low of just two to four breeding pairs to around 46 birds. It is the highest number recorded in the area for three centuries. Birds like Merrick have even ventured south into England. “For over six years our passionate and dedicated project team have worked painstakingly round the clock, in partnership with raptor workers, vets, estates, land managers, game keepers and the wider community, to ensure the health and safety of the birds we translocate,” Clarke added. “Continued support such as this is vital to saving Scotland’s nature for future generations.” Merrick originated from Rottal estate near Kirriemuir in the Angus Glens and was translocated in the summer of 2022. Before her disappearance, the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project team’s round-the-clock surveillance showed that Merrick was loving her new home and exploring all over south of Scotland and Northern England. The beautiful bird has been photographed on her trip in Weardale and filmed in Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Keywords: merrick,golden eagle,bird,nature,natural world,feature,news,animals,mystery,video,photo
PersonInImage: