Gamekeepers report 'relentless abuse' after golden eagle death appeal

Gamekeepers in Perthshire were subjected to “relentless online abuse” after police issued a witness appeal over the death of a golden eagle.

The Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association (SGA) criticised the handling of the incident by police in Tayside claiming that “insensitive” public messaging led to individuals becoming targets for online attacks.

Young family members were also targeted in the school playground following the discovery of the raptor’s corpse in the Glen Quaich area near Dunkeld.

It later emerged the bird had died as a result of “natural causes”.

The unnamed estate “voluntarily” informed local officers and handed the bird over on April 25 before waiting for toxicology analysis to rule out the possibility of foul play.