The use of poisoned baits caused the death of more than 40,000 animals between 2005 and 2010, according to the results of the LIFE+veneno project developed by SEO/Birdlife with the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), which contributes 450,000 euros to this initiative. Between 2005 and 2010, 4,395 specimens of wild and domestic fauna species were found whose death was due to the use of poisoned baits. According to the report Illegal Use of Poisoned Baits. Legal analysis and research, carried out by SEO/Birdlife within the framework of the project, only between 7% and 10% of the animals that have actually been poisoned are located, so it is estimated that more than 40,000 specimens will die due to the use of poison in a period of five years.

The illegal use of poison is the main threat to vulnerable or endangered wildlife species. This is the case of the Iberian imperial eagle, the Egyptian vulture, the black vulture, the golden eagle, the Bonelli’s eagle, the red kite, the black kite and the bearded vulture. From 2005 to 2010, 575 specimens of griffon vultures and 297 individuals of red kites were found, whose death was due to the use of poisoned baits. This illegal practice also affects mammals such as foxes, brown bears, and wolves. The death of these animals can lead to the loss of their territories, a decrease in generational renewal or the isolation of their populations.

In urban environments, domestic animals also suffer the consequences of the use of poisoned baits. The dog is the species most affected by the illegal use of poison in Spain with 953 cases detected between 2005 and 2010. In this period, 207 poisoned cats were also found. The high number of domestic animals detected is also due to the fact that a large part of their poisonings are reported by their owners and, therefore, can be quantified, according to the report prepared by SEO/Birdlife.

Faced with this situation, the Biodiversity Foundation of the MAGRAMA, supports the reinforcement of actions to combat deaths by poisoning, giving continuity to the actions carried out within the framework of the LIFE+poison project in application of the National Strategy against the Illegal Use of Poisoned Baits in the Natural Environment, prepared in 2004 by the Ministry together with the rest of the competent administrations. In the process of being updated, the Strategy presents three areas of action: the search for and obtaining better information and knowledge; prevention and deterrence, and prosecution and condemnation of criminal acts.

Engaging citizens

After four years of implementation, the LIFE+ veneno project has made it possible to expand knowledge about the illegal use of poison in Spain, the professionalization of the agents dedicated to combating this practice and the improvement of awareness in society.

With the aim of involving citizens and denouncing cases of poisoning, a Network of Volunteers against Poison has been created, which has more than 333 members. Likewise, the SOS Veneno Telephone (900 713 182), created in 1999 and which has supported other initiatives co-financed by the Biodiversity Foundation, such as the SOS veneno project, developed by the Fund for the Conservation of the Black Vulture, has been maintained.

LIFE+ poison has been executed by SEO/Birdlife, the Fund for the Conservation of the Black Vulture and the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-la Mancha, with a total budget of 1.6 million euros, financed 40% by the European Commission, 26% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, through the Biodiversity Foundation, and the remaining amount by the Junta de Andalucía, the Government of Cantabria and the Cabildo de Fuerteventura.