Six white-tailed eagles released on Exmoor in reintroduction project
Six white-tailed eagles have been released into Exmoor National Park as part of a reintroduction project, the first in 200 years, amid concerns from farmers.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Six young white-tailed eagles have been released into the wild at Exmoor National Park, the first such release in the area for 200 years. The birds, which are Britain's largest bird of prey, were hunted to extinction more than two centuries ago. The reintroduction project began in 2019 on the Isle of Wight, and since then 45 eagles have been released into the wild. The six new birds were released in secret locations within the national park, chosen for its ideal foraging and breeding habitat along the coastline.
The project has support from conservationists, who point to place names and archaeological records showing the birds originally lived there. 'We know from all place names and archaeological records that these birds originally were here and they're really important for the whole ecosystem,' said a project representative.
However, the release has raised concerns among some farmers. In Scotland, some farmers blame releases there for devastating their livestock, with one filming an eagle taking away a lamb. Some farmers on Exmoor worry they could lose livestock too. One farmer said: 'We've done a lot of good work and all that now seems to be sacrificed on the back of an indulgence on behalf of the National Park to have an apex predator within the park boundary.'
Those behind the project say the birds will be satellite tracked and closely monitored. Further releases are due over coming years, with the hope that the eagles will flourish in the area once again.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One |
|---|---|---|
| Six young white-tailed eagles were released into the wild at Exmoor National Park, the first such release in 200 years. | ||
| Some farmers on Exmoor expressed concern about potential livestock losses, and a farmer in Scotland filmed an eagle taking a lamb. | ||
| The white-tailed eagle reintroduction project began in 2019 on the Isle of Wight, with 45 eagles released since then. | ||
| The number of bird species at the site increased from 67 to 94 in three years. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC One West aired the national report by Jenny Kumar, focusing on the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to Exmoor. The report balanced the conservation success with the concerns of farmers, including a quote from a farmer who felt the release was an 'indulgence' by the National Park. The channel did not add any regional-specific context beyond the national report.
- “We know from all place names and archaeological records that these birds originally were here and they're really important for the whole ecosystem”
- “We've done a lot of good work and all that now seems to be Sacrificed on the back of an indulgence on behalf of the National Park to have an apex predator within the park boundary”
BBC News broadcast the same report by Jenny Kumar, with no additional analysis. The tone was neutral, presenting both the conservation case and the farmers' concerns. The channel highlighted the historical extinction and the ongoing project expansion.
- “We know from all place names and archaeological records that these birds originally were here and they're really important for the whole ecosystem”
- “We've done a lot of good work and all that now seems to be Sacrificed on the back of an indulgence on behalf of the National Park to have an apex predator within the park boundary”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.