Hen harrier's disappearance treated as suspicious

Image source, RSBP

Image caption, The hen harrier - called Shalimar - has not been seen since February

RSPB Scotland is investigating the "sudden" and "suspicious" disappearance of a tagged hen harrier.

The charity said data from the young female bird - which was fledged at the Mar Lodge Estate in Aberdeenshire - stopped being transmitted on 15 February.

A search of the hen harrier's last known location in the Glen Esk area of Angus was carried out by officers from the National Wildlife Crime unit, Police Scotland and RSPB staff.

There has been no trace of the bird - named Shalimar - or its tag since then.

The RSPB added that it was the fourth tagged hen harrier to have disappeared in the area since 2017.

Read more on stories from north east Scotland