The James Tuttiett Charitable Trust was delighted to provide financial support to ESPA (Endangered Species Protection Agency) towards purchasing a pair of Pulsar LRF XP50 Thermal-Imaging -Binoculars. These TI binoculars are for surveillance purposes to help the ESPA protect vulnerable peregrine falcon eyries from nest robbers seeking to traffic peregrine eggs and chicks into the illegal wildlife trade.
Safeguarding the UK’s peregrine falcons and ensure their continued expansion into their former range is vital. Hampshire was a former peregrine stronghold, and these birds could spread far and wide if they could escape persecution. The Winchester Cathedral peregrines are doing well, but the charity want to help the rural peregrine population return to the pre-World War II levels.
ESPA was co-founded in 2015 by a British military veteran and an investigative journalist with a shared passion for wildlife to provide solutions to combat wildlife crime and preserve endangered or threatened species. The charity aims to significantly reduce the trade in endangered species by disrupting criminal enterprises and providing specialist bespoke services and personnel for anti-poaching operations.
The UK’s peregrine falcon population is fragile and susceptible to egg and chick thieves and the associated disturbance to eyries. According to the British Trust for Ornithology, the UK population was last estimated at only 1,731 pairs in 2014. Peregrines are typically found in remote upland or coastal areas. Sadly, the northern population is struggling and still threatened by illegal persecution and trade to the Middle East falconry market. The Arabian Peninsula has a strong falconry tradition, which is the primary driver for peregrine egg and chick theft. Wildlife criminals have heavily targeted nesting sites in northern England and Scotland, with multiple peregrine falcon egg thefts reported in recent years.
During the 2020/21 lockdown restrictions, many nesting sites across the UK were left unguarded, making them highly vulnerable to egg thieves. The open and lightly policed countryside during that time allowed wildlife criminals to rob known nesting sites and identify other vulnerable peregrine eyries. It is hoped that increased surveillance will help reduce the disturbance to eyries and secure the population of these majestic birds. To find out more speciesprotection.com