Gamekeeper fined after beating Buzzard bird to death in North Yorkshire
A man was caught after secret RSPB filming caught the killing
A gamekeeper has pleaded guilty to killing a protected Buzzard in North Yorkshire after brutally beating it with a stick.
The incident happened in Hovingham in March 2024, and was captured by secret RSPB filming.
Thomas Munday pleaded guilty and was fined £1215.
The court heard how the Buzzard entered a crow cage trap in woodland near Hovingham.
Four hours later, Munday arrived masked, and beat the bird with a stick repeatedly before throwing it into a vehicle and driving away.
Munday was employed as a gamekeeper.
He was later arrested after an investigation.
The killing of a Buzzard is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Howard Jones, RSPB Senior Investigations Officer said: “The casual and brutal killing of the Buzzard is extremely upsetting to watch and it’s clear that Munday has a complete disregard for the law, and the legislation that protects these birds.
"Frustratingly, this incident isn’t a one off but is just the latest example of the cruel and disturbing lengths some individuals will go to in order to illegally kill birds of prey.
“These crimes and the wider issue of bird of prey persecution is significantly linked to the gamebird shooting industry. Without long overdue regulation of gamebird shooting we expect to see these crimes continue.”