MP says White-tailed Eagles "would become huge threat to lambs" if reintroduced to Cumbria

                                                       

Tim Farron - keen to heed the concerns of farmers 

THE Lib-Dems spokesperson on environmental affairs has spoken out against bringing White-tailed Eagles back to Cumbria where the species was persecuted to breeding extinction many years ago.

Tim Farron, who is MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, says: "There are well-meaning motives behind wanting to reintroduce White-tailed Eagles, but the evidence strongly shows that this would not enhance biodiversity and would become a huge threat to animal welfare and see the loss of lambs.

"The evidence shows that the birds may not target lots of farms, but that for those farms they do target they will return over and over again and decimate flocks.

"Some may say that the Eagles won’t be introduced near to farms, but these animals fly long distances and will, of course, move towards sources of food.

"This is a dangerous, poorly thought out move which is an unnecessary threat to animal welfare and we should stop it."

The MP, who was formerly leader of the Lib-Dems, says he has written to the Lake District National Park Authority raising his concerns about the prospect of reintroduction.