The deliberate shooting of an endangered eagle in Westmeath has left people disgusted according to the NPWS. The White Tailed Eagle was shot dead in early December around Lough Owel near Mullingar. The National Park and Wildlife Service have launched an investigation into the animal's death and are calling on the public to come forward with any information.
The two year old female eagle was part of the NPWS White Tailed Eagle Reintroduction Programmes and was released on the Shannon Estuary in 2022. The service is currently awaiting the results of a forensic analysis on the eagle in order to gain more information on the incident. Therese Kelly is a Conservation Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife service and says that this incident has been upsetting for their staff:
