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Harry, Pal Eyed in Shooting of Rare Birds

Protected hen harriers killed on royal estate

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 31, 2007 10:54 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Prince Harry and a pal were grilled by police after two rare birds of prey were killed last week on an estate belonging to the British royal family. The prince was out shooting when witnesses saw two hen harriers hit, a crime punishable by six months in prison or a £5,000 fine. Harry and his friend denied any involvement.

There are estimated to be only about 20 breeding pairs of hen harriers in England, the Guardian reports. "We take any allegations of killing of hen harriers very seriously," says a spokesman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The species is one of only two birds of prey on Britain's most endangered "red list."

Britain's Prince Harry reacts after the Rugby World Cup semifinal between England and France, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. Police questioned Prince Harry over the shooting of two threatened birds of prey near a royal estate in eastern England, Buckingham Palace...
Britain's Prince Harry reacts after the Rugby World Cup semifinal between England and France, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. Police questioned Prince...   (Associated Press)
The usual penalty for killing a hen harrier is a £5,000 fine or up to six months in jail.
The usual penalty for killing a hen harrier is a £5,000 fine or up to six months in jail.   (Shutterstock.com)
Britain's Prince Harry, patron of MapAction, meets volunteers and supporters at a reception to mark fifty successful missions for MapAction, at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in central London, Thursday Oct. 11 2007. MapAction produce detailed regional maps following any disaster, showing the local areas and are designed to...
Britain's Prince Harry, patron of MapAction, meets volunteers and supporters at a reception to mark fifty successful missions for MapAction, at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in central...   (Associated Press)
Britain's Prince Harry, patron of MapAction, meets volunteers and supporters at a reception to mark fifty successful missions for MapAction, at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in central London, Thursday Oct. 11 2007. MapAction produce detailed regional maps following any disaster, showing the local areas and are designed to...
Britain's Prince Harry, patron of MapAction, meets volunteers and supporters at a reception to mark fifty successful missions for MapAction, at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in central...   (Associated Press)
Britain's Prince Harry, patron of MapAction, meets volunteers and supporters during a reception to mark fifty successful missions for MapAction, at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in central London, Thursday Oct. 11 2007. MapAction produce detailed regional maps following any disaster, showing the local areas and are designed to...
Britain's Prince Harry, patron of MapAction, meets volunteers and supporters during a reception to mark fifty successful missions for MapAction, at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in central...   (Associated Press)
Britain's Prince Harry sits under the flag of England, looking on from the tribune prior to the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. Police questioned Prince Harry over the shooting of two threatened...
Britain's Prince Harry sits under the flag of England, looking on from the tribune prior to the Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007 at the Stade de France in...   (Associated Press)
England's Princes William, bottom left, and Prince Harry, top right, react during the Rugby World Cup final match between England and South Africa at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis, outside Paris, Saturday Oct.20, 2007. South Africa won the match 15-6. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
England's Princes William, bottom left, and Prince Harry, top right, react during the Rugby World Cup final match between England and South Africa at the Stade de France stadium in Saint Denis, outside...   (Associated Press)
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More on why this would be embarassing for Harry (still not "Nazi costume" embarassing)
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endangered species • Prince Harry • endangered species list • hunting • British royals • guns

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