Rare bird showman cautioned

Jul 24 2005 By The Sunday Sun

One of the North's top tourist attractions is employing a wildlife expert who has been cautioned by police for illegally selling birds of prey.

Ray Lowdon, who runs the Kielder Water Bird of Prey Centre in Northumberland, is one of two men who have been cautioned by police for selling a falcon on an endangered species list without the correct paperwork.

Mr Lowdon, whose company performs every day during the summer at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, was cautioned along with Mark French by officers from Northumbria Police.

Mr French, 38, of Hexham, Northumberland, has kept wild birds for six years.

He said: "I sold the bird to a wildlife officer. I knew he was a policeman and if I had anything to hide I wouldn't have sold the bird.

He claimed: "When I bought the animal from Ray he said he would get the correct paperwork to me but it never materialised.

"After a while the missing papers fell to the back of my mind. When I came to sell the bird a year later I remembered I needed them so I got in contact with Ray.

"After I contacted him a few times he said that he couldn't provide me with any papers. At that stage I decided that I had no choice but to report to authorities that we had both technically broken the law."

Mr Lowdon, of Ryton, Gateshead, told the Sunday Sun that he sold the bird without the correct papers and had received a police caution. He was reluctant to discuss the matter further.

Philip Gregory, spokesman for Alnwick Castle, initially said they were unaware of the police caution.

He later added: "Alnwick Castle has had an excellent working relationship with Kielder Birds of Prey for three years and we see no reason why this should change.

"The matter has been dealt with by police and Kielder Birds of Prey will continue to be a very popular visitor attraction at Alnwick Castle."

A spokesman for Northumbria Police confirmed that two men had been formally cautioned.The pair were both questioned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which was designed to help protect wild birds from being traded illegally. Under the law all protected birds must have identity papers known as an Article 10 which must be passed onto the new owner whenever the bird or animal is sold.Ends