A bird of prey charity's future is under threat if they can’t fund a whopping sum
They now have around 50 birds.
A charity to restore golden eagle populations says it needs 4-hundred thousand pounds to secure its long-term future.
The South of Scotland Golden Eagle project in Moffat faces an "imminent threat" of winding down unless the cash can be raised.
It started with just a handful of birds of prey but now it has soared to around 50 - the highest in centuries.
Project Manager Cat Barlow:
“It’s really crucial that we secure funding to take forward our eagle work. The eagles that we’ve been translocating are still really young, they’re just beginning to settle in new territories and form pairs, and our work will help secure a longer-term future for these birds.”
The award-winning initiative was meant to conclude this year meaning their current funding runs out at the end of this year, however, new bold plans were developed by the project team and its partners.
Without this funding, the charity faces the likely threat of needing to wind down.
On Monday, the team revealed plans to launch a standalone charity called RUN (Restoring Upland Nature) next year.
The purpose of this new initiative is so that other parts of the UK that have not been home to the threatened species for hundreds of years can look into ways that can change that.
“It would be brilliant to get the public support to help restore golden eagles to areas they haven’t seen in hundreds of years.
“We’re really keen to help cement the future of golden eagles in the south of Scotland and beyond, returning them to English skies.
“Projects like ours can help reverse the biodiversity with decline like we’re seeing all across the UK. We’ve shown here in the south of Scotland that the modern world can support wildlife like golden eagles.
“We have great plans to build on and extend our groundbreaking work so that other parts of the UK benefit from the return of golden eagles. But we can only do this with public support.
“Our current funding runs out at the end of this year, and we will need to wind down very soon unless we can raise more funds.
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has and can, support the vital work to restore golden eagles to the areas they once thrived.
“Every donation made will play a key part in reversing the UK’s biodiversity decline and ensuring current and future generations across the UK can experience that incredible sense of excitement - and hope - on seeing golden eagles soar.”
Welsh Springwatch TV presenter Iolo Williams, who is a supporter of the project and a previous keynote speaker at the Moffat Eagle Festival said:
“When I think of all the birds I’d love to see in Wales once more, I have to say top of my list would be the golden eagle.
“It became extinct in Wales around 400 years ago and in the last 30 years they became extinct in England as well.
“But thankfully the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project has reintroduced golden eagles back to an area of Scotland where they were just down to a handful of pairs, and it is really exciting to see what is going on.
“Hopefully soon they will be back in England and who knows maybe in my kids’ lifetime they’ll be back in Wales.
“But that is only if this exciting project can continue. They’re running out of money and need your help. They need to raise that money as soon as possible.
“So, if you can, please donate money to the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, a brilliant project. Imagine looking up to the skies in the north of England and Wales and seeing golden eagles back to where they belong.”