Red kite found shot in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire

An injured young red kite was found by a member of the public in the village of Leadhills on 8th August. The bird was suffering to such an extent and her injuries were so severe that the most humane option was to put her to sleep, according to the SSPCA news report. A post-mortem revealed she had been shot. The SSPCA is appealing for information about this crime. Leadhills is a known hotspot for the illegal persecution of birds of prey and several gamekeepers have been previously convicted for wildlife crimes in the area. Red kites have been reintroduced into several areas of Scotland, beginning in 1989, and illegal persecution is known to be their greatest threat.