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Press Releases
Supergoose Douglas shot dead illegally by hunter
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With The Return of Supergoose featuring on Autumnwatch on 91Èȱ¬ TWO during the first two weeks of October, there is sad news this week that Douglas has been shot dead and his legs returned in the post as shocking proof.
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Douglas met his demise on Disco Bay, Western Greenland when hunters were reported to have seen a group of seven light-bellied Brent Geese and shot and killed two of them.
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When the hunter discovered the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) satellite transmitter he reported it and returned the transmitter complete with Douglas' severed legs and leg rings so the goose could be identified.
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Of the ten Supergeese fitted with transmitters by the WWT scientists in the Spring, only five are still in the race, as Arthur has also been reported as missing this week.
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The return journey from the Arctic Tundra, over the Greenland ice-cap through Iceland and back to Ireland, is fraught with hazards and illegal hunting is just one of the obstacles that the migrating geese must face every year.
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WWT project scientist Kendrew Colhoun said: "While we can't be sure of the precise reasons why some of the tracked geese have disappeared, Douglas' fate may well have been shared by others.
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"It is unlikely that all birds have been shot as other reasons may be responsible including mortality due to poor weather or transmitter malfunction or loss are also possible.
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"What happened to Douglas is however illustrative of one of the many hazards these birds face on this long and arduous migration."
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He adds: "Finding out this sort of information on mortality sources, identifying migratory routes and the importance of staging areas are key objectives of the project.
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"We would hope that the sad news on Douglas will help us to argue for stricter conservation measures of this population as they pass through Greenland in Spring and Autumn."
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Light-bellied Brent geese are a protected species in the UK, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland and satellite tracking enables WWT scientists to help protect them by finding out what sites they use, what routes they take, how long it takes them and how they cope with the journey.
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The return of Supergoose will feature on 91Èȱ¬ Autumnwatch with Bill Oddie during the first two weeks of October (Monday to Thursday evenings on 91Èȱ¬ TWO at 8.00pm starting 2 October).
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The progress of the five remaining Supergeese - Orville, Howard, Alberto, Clark Brent and Hermes - can be followed online and via email and text alerts available via www.wwt.org.uk/supergoose and bbc.co.uk/autumnwatch.
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Notes to Editors
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WWT Brent Goose Research
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Every year Light-bellied Brent Geese embark on an amazing journey, flying over 8,000 Km in a round trip from Ireland to Canada and then back again.
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During this journey, they stop over in Iceland, taking a short rest during Spring to prepare for the long haul to their Canadian breeding grounds in the High Arctic.
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This long migration takes them to remote and hazardous regions, especially in Greenland and Canada. WWT uses Satellite tracking to follow their amazing adventure.
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To help protect them it is important for us to know what sites they use, what routes they take, how long it takes them and how they cope with the journey.
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Tracking a variety of birds helps see if they behave and move in different ways. It also helps us to gain a wider understanding of the whole population.
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The project started in April 2006 when the geese took off from Ireland, and they are being monitored on their journey to Iceland through Greenland to Canada and back to Ireland this Autumn.
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The Supergeese
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Of the 10 light-bellied Brent geese which are being satellite-tracked by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in collaboration with the 91Èȱ¬, five are still in the race home after others are missing or dead. They are:
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Orville
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Like several of our geese Orville was tagged while feeding at Alftanes in western Iceland. Male light-bellied brent geese typically put on around a third of their body weight during this stopover.
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Named after Orville Wright who flew the plane which completed the world's first ever sustained, controlled and powered flight in 1903.
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Howard
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In early April Howard was tagged and fitted with a satellite transmitter at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. Up to 25,000 light-bellied brents feed here from September to October (most of the population) before dispersing to other sites in Ireland or even Jersey and France. Several thousand stay on though, and Howard was one these.
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Named after.Millionaire aviator, film maker and businessman Howard Hughes who built the Spruce Goose aeroplane in 1946.
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Alberto
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Alberto was tagged in early April by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in Tralee, south west Eire. Over the next month he was spotted several times having a good feed. In mid May he set out on his annual migration.
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Named after.Alberto Santos-Dumont who was the first man to achieve powered flight in Europe.
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Clark Brent
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Clark Brent (formerly known as C91Èȱ¬1) was fitted with his satellite transmitter in Alftanes south of Reykjavik. He was our heaviest Supergoose, and will have needed the extra muscle and 'fuel' for the arduous migration.
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Clark Brent was named by Ben Green, aged seven, who lives in London. Ben was a joint winner of the Children's 91Èȱ¬ Supergoose competition.
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He says: "I chose this great name because it rhymes with Superman's real name Clark Kent and this goose is super special."
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Hermes
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Hermes (formerly known as C91Èȱ¬3) left Ireland some time in late April or early May and flew to Alftanes, Iceland. Here he was spotted, netted and tagged by WWT researchers.
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Hermes was named by Josephine Guy, aged 11, who lives in Cumbria. Josephine was a joint winner of the Children's 91Èȱ¬ Supergoose competition.
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She says: "I chose this great name because Hermes was the messenger of the Greek gods and will carry messages about where the group is on its journey."
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SB2
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