By correlating field data pertaining to 1,075 poisoned red kites, which are threatened birds of prey, with changes in red kite abundance and occupancy across 274 sites in mainland Spain between 1994 and 2014, researchers found that red kite poisoning was correlated with red kite local extinction as well as the decline of the bird's breeding population in Spain; the findings suggest that wildlife poisoning from toxins, such as pesticides and lead ammunition, may contribute to country-wide population declines of vertebrate species, according to the authors.
Article #19-22355: "Direct evidence of poison-driven widespread population decline in a wild vertebrate," by Patricia Mateo-Tomás et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Patricia Mateo-Tomás, University of Oviedo, Asturias, SPAIN; tel: 0034-630784946; email: rktespejos@gmail.com
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Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences