Cull on Golden Eagles in Norway

The proposal to lift the protection on the Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) has been made by a majority of members in the energy and environment committee Tuesday last week. The goal of the new proposal is to reduce the population of Golden Eagles in the belief that this will reduce the deaths of livestock, like reindeer, which some believe are killed by Golden Eagles.

Norsk Ornitologisk Forening (BirdLife in Norway) has said that this idea is unfounded in the scientific evidence and is actually unlikely to result in a reduction of losses in livestock. NOF has shown scientific evidence that indicates that the loss of livestock to Golden Eagles is not related to the population density of the birds.

The new proposal is planned to be voted on in the Norwegian Parliament this week. Norwegian law has protected the Golden eagles and other birds of prey since 1968.

Kjetil Solbakken, CEO of NOF, says "Shooting Golden Eagles is unheard of in Europe. The removal of Golden Eagles that haven’t caused any damage will almost certainly…place Norway in the international Hall of Shame." Norway’s own Environment Agency does not support this weakening of the protections for Norwegian Golden Eagles.

The NOF has launched a petition to get the support for these birds. We need to show Norway that what they are planning is wrong and protect them. Please sign and share this petition far and wide:

Don´t kill Golden Eagles in Norway!

The whole article can be found here: Norway proposes cull of Golden Eagles

Official site of the NOF is here: http://www.birdlife.no/