Best of 2023, Killing the Skydancer: episode two, The Perfect Crime
Dec 27, 2023
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Investigation into illegal killing of birds of prey on grouse moors. Surprising silence around the killing of hen harrier’s chicks. Exploring efforts to protect endangered species. Mysterious circumstances and bird conservation. Teaser for final episode on bird species extinction.
27:09
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Quick takeaways
Investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of raptor persecution is challenging due to remote crime scenes and difficulty in gathering sufficient evidence.
Organizations like Natural England face the delicate task of balancing bird protection with maintaining partnerships with landowners and shooting industries.
Deep dives
Investigating illegal killing of Birds of Prey
In this podcast episode, the hosts revisit their mini-series 'Killing the Skydancer' that focuses on the illegal killing of the UK's Birds of Prey. They discuss the challenges faced in investigating and exposing such crimes, including the difficulties in obtaining evidence and cooperation from authorities and landowners. The episode sheds light on the ease with which perpetrators of raptor persecution can evade justice, highlighting the ongoing problem of bird of prey killings and the need for continued efforts to protect these species.
The difficulties of collecting evidence and prosecuting perpetrators
The episode explores the challenges faced by investigators in collecting evidence and prosecuting those responsible for raptor persecution. It showcases the clandestine work of wildlife crime officers who conduct stakeouts, collect evidence, and work with organizations like Natural England and the police. However, the remote and isolated nature of the crime scenes, combined with the use of masks and balaclavas by offenders, makes it difficult to identify perpetrators and gather sufficient evidence for successful prosecutions.
The delicate balance for conservation organizations
The hosts highlight the delicate position of organizations like Natural England, who must balance their role in protecting bird species with the need to maintain partnerships and cooperation with landowners and shooting industries. The episode acknowledges that while significant progress has been made in some areas, raptor persecution remains a persistent issue. The importance of ongoing efforts, collaboration, and public awareness in combating these crimes is emphasized, as is the need to hold accountable those responsible for the continued persecution of birds of prey.
In this special Age of Extinction mini-series from Science Weekly, which first aired in August 2023, the Guardian’s biodiversity reporter, Phoebe Weston, explores the murky world of the illegal killing of birds of prey on grouse moors, and asks why it is so difficult to solve these crimes. In episode two, Phoebe speaks to the people trying to protect these rare birds but, as she digs deeper, she encounters a surprising silence around the killing of a hen harrier’s chicks. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
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