TV's Chris Packham says the illegal killing of birds of prey in the UK is "out of control" after a hen harrier was found in an illegally set trap on a grouse moor.
The male hen harrier was said to have suffered serious injuries after being caught in a spring trap next to its nest in South Lanarkshire.
Its lower leg was almost severed off and his injuries were so severe that vets had to euthanise him.
The bird had been found in great distress by members of the Scottish Raptor Study Group.
A second trap, also illegally-set, had been placed on the harrier's nearby nest.
Mr Packham said in a call to arms: "This is a sad and depressing day for conservation and a dark day for all of UK shooting.
"The despicably cruel and brazen slaughter of this Hen Harrier on a Scottish grouse moor absolutely must herald some real action.
"This crime marks a most depressing day for raptor conservation in the UK and undoubtedly the darkest day for the whole shooting industry.
"It's out of control, obviously beyond any form of self-regulation, and is tolerant of an utter contempt for the laws which are meant to protect our wildlife.
"This woeful death zone in South Lanarkshire needs cleaning up and clearing out now. This is 2019, not 1860 and this sickening spectacle has to consign driven grouse shooting to the dustbin."
There have been at least 70 confirmed raptor persecution crimes on and close to a number of grouse moors in the South Lanarkshire region over 15 years, according to RSPB figures.
Mr Packham spoke out just weeks ago about two golden eagles whose tags had stopped transmitting in April near Dunkeld.
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