Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
identities, methods, and number of successful prosecutions. Even when an incidence of mass mor-
tality arises and poisoning is suspected, only a fraction of the carcasses are submitted for analysis,
which means that the number of casualties attributed to poisoning is underestimated. And, as stated
elsewhere in this chapter, what we detect undoubtedly represents only a fraction of what is really
occurring.
Persecution is frequently aimed at foxes (
Vulpes vulpes
), common buzzards (
Buteo buteo
) and
goshawks (Accipiter sp.), all predators of small game, racing pigeons or livestock. However, since
2004, we have observed a disturbing trend whereby predators are persecuted by individuals who
mistakenly believe that they are responsible for the decline in populations of meadow-dwelling birds
(e.g., lapwings (
V. vanellus
) and black-tailed godwits (
L. limosa
)). Nest disturbance and destruction
of nest contents, shooting, poisoning and trapping (cage and foot-hold) are among the methods used
against predators. In reality, the meadow-dwelling species are not faring well because of intensifi -
cation in agricultural practices, which forces the predators and meadow-dwelling species to be in
closer confi nes (Teunissen, Schekkerman and Willems 2006).
The persecution is not carried out on an altruistic basis either, for the simple good of these spe-
cies. Indeed, there is a tradition in the Province of Friesland (in the northern part of the Netherlands)
to collect the eggs of lapwings and, because it is a 'tradition', EU permits have been issued, so that
under certain regulations egg collecting is allowed by law. Since the dramatic reduction of meadow
birds that has followed the agricultural intensifi cation, the Dutch Ministry has been providing sub-
sidies to farmers to promote agricultural practices that are favourable to the species, including a
'bonus' for each successful nest, which has unintentionally provided a fi nancial incentive to perse-
cute predators.
5.3.2 The scale of carbofuran use to poison wildlife, especially birds of prey,
in the Netherlands
Poisoning is, in our opinion, one of the most commonly used methods of persecution in the
Netherlands. Of the methods outlined earlier, poisoning is one of the easiest, and there is a
limited chance of being caught. Since poisoning is non-selective, many non-targeted species
are victims as well, among them Red List species (such as pine marten (
Martes martes
), white-
tailed eagle (
Haliaeetus albicilla
) and red kite (
Milvus milvus
); and see Table 5.2 below) as well
as dogs and cats.
In 2000, I (H. Jansman) wrote a booklet on how to recognise persecution and what to do if detected.
The topic was written for fi eld biologists and law enforcement offi cers, since the latter had no prior
knowledge of how to proceed (refer to Jansman 2000). A dramatic poisoning case in my own study
area (where over 20 buzzards and a goshawk died) provided the impetus for writing the topic, after so
many things went wrong in the investigation, although in the end the criminal was apprehended. In
this case, carbofuran was used. At the time, it could still be purchased at any farm supply store in the
Netherlands with only a copy of one's identifi cation card required. The granulate pellets were spread
in the breast muscle of dead racing pigeons which were used as bait. Although forbidden or no longer
available, other compounds are still used as poisons in the Netherlands (refer to the list below). As
mentioned throughout this chapter, stockpiles last a very long time, or can be easily obtained from
neighbouring countries. The reader has only to look at Figure 5.1 and Table 5.1 to understand this.
Although human-related crimes remain the priority of the police, some offi cers are allowed
to devote a small portion of their time to 'eco-crimes' as well. In this regard, the booklet
(i.e., Jansman 2000) is still considered a defi nitive reference, providing detailed instructions on
how to search for carcasses and submit them for toxicological analyses. Some of the compounds
known to have been used to poison wildlife in the Netherlands in the last ten years include:
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