Investigating the killing of the white-tailed eagle: what happens?
Petitioning Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Estonia
Recalling what has happened:
White-tailed eagle "Nimeta“ was nursed back to health at the Veterinary Clinic of the Estonian University of Life Sciences, provided with a GPS transmitter, and released in nature on September 7th. After the morning of October 2nd no more signals were received from the transmitter. Ornithologists from the Eagle Club visited the last known location of the eagle that was given by the GPS at 9 o’clock in the morning of October 2nd. They hoped to find at least some traces of the eagle.
Urmas Sellis: “In that grove we found nothing, but a flock of ravens rose into the air from a nearby field. It seemed that some dead animal might be nearby and so it would be no surprise that our eagle Nimeta too spent some time there. He had been there for six days already. Soon, however, we found the body of the white-tailed eagle lying on its back in a ditch, and it looked as if it had been there for a week already. Ravens had eaten the softer tissues but no larger animal had been there because its back and feet that were in water were intact. So also was the transmitter on the back of the bird but it could not transmit signals from the ditch because of the poor GSM coverage. All this leads to the conclusion that the eagle died on October 2nd after 15.00“.
Veterinary Madis Leivits observed that the under-skin layer of fat on the eagle’s back and feet was very satisfactory, showing that the bird had not suffered from any long-term distress or illness. Consequently the cause of death of the white-tailed eagle must have been shooting. The conclusion is supported by lead fragments that Madis Leivits discovered in the X-ray images of the remaining body tissues and that had not been present when the eagle was in veterinary care.
Who would have had cause to shoot the eagle?
The Veterinary and Food Board have made investigations on the site: "At the shooting place were the remains of about seven calves, five sheep, in addition offal, an elk skin and raccoon dog carcasses“, Jüri Gustavson, director of the Veterinary Centre of Lääne-Viru County, said. The lands are used by the Simuna hunting society. In the area where the domestic animal carcasses were found there is also a small building which according to Jüri Gustavson indicates that game hunting had been planned in the area.
Madis Leivits has prepared a detailed expert report for the investigating authorities and all concerned parties have submitted their testimonies.
The Estonian Hunters’ Society has condemned what has happened and is conducting an internal investigation.
We look forward to the results of the investigations by the Environmental Inspectorate and the Estonian Ministry of the Environment.
The international community that has followed the doings of our eagles by the web cameras asks for your support by your signature on the petition calling for investigation of the killing and condemning what happened:
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