Message from Raptor Persecution UK
15th October 2025
Prominent falconer and eagle breeder, Andrew Knowles-Brown, 70, has been sentenced after investigators from the Scottish SSPCA found approximately 90 eagles and other birds were living in ‘unimaginable squalor’ at his breeding facility (the Scottish Eagle Centre) in Elvanfoot, Scotland.
Last October after a trial at Lanark Sheriff Court, Knowles-Brown was found to have caused unnecessary suffering to the eagles and parrots and to have failed to protect them from injury, suffering and disease between June and December 2019 (see here for details).
Photos via Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
The Sheriff warned that she was considering disqualifying him from keeping birds but with so many, it was not known whether suitable, specialist homes could be found. Sentencing was deferred until 2025 as the court was told Knowles-Brown was ‘scaling down his facility’ and making improvements to the remaining aviaries (see here).
In June 2025 SSPCA inspectors returned to the Scottish Eagle Centre and noted some improvements.
Earlier this month, Knowles-Brown returned to court for sentencing and was fined a total of £13,437.50. He was also disqualified from keeping birds apart from 20 individuals (species unknown) – the rest of his collection has either been rehomed already, or will be rehomed.
Faye Cook from COPFS said:
“This was a shocking case of animal cruelty. These birds were forced to survive in almost unimaginable squalor.
“The public will be appalled. Andrew Knowles-Brown had established a reputation as an international bird breeder. But this was a betrayal of trust by someone who had some standing among breeders.
“Animal welfare crime will be robustly prosecuted by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service when there is a strong presumption in favour of prosecution of the cases reported to us and where there is sufficient evidence to do so“.
A spokesperson from the SSPCA said:
“We are satisfied with the outcome that Knowles-Brown has been disqualified from owning birds, with the exception of 20 birds, and the remaining birds who were in his care will now be transported to appropriate homes.”
Knowles-Brown is a prominent figure in the falconry world, having served as the Chair of the Scottish Hawk Board and Vice-Chair of the UK Hawk Board.
The Hawk Board, which enjoys close ties with the Countryside Alliance, represents falconers, hawk-keepers and falconry clubs and provides welfare guidelines for those keeping raptors in captivity.
It also engages in political lobbying (e.g. it was against the Scottish Government’s decision to afford the Mountain Hare full legal protection) and Knowles-Brown himself has provided evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Committee when it was considering its draft Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill.