THE only known golden eagle chick to have hatched in the Borders last year has disappeared.

And wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham believes the seven-month-old eagle is the latest victim of persecution against birds of prey in Scotland.

The young bird hatched at a secret nest site in Peeblesshire back in June, and in cooperation with the landowner, conservationists fitted him with a state-of-the-art tracking device as part of a new project initiated by Mr Packham and Dr Ruth Tingay of Raptor Persecution UK.

The Borders landowner named the eagle Fred after his grandson.

The eagle was tracked last month as it made its way from the Borders into Midlothian - settling for around a week in woodlands beneath the Pentland Hills.

But within a week Fred's tracking device suddenly stopped transmitting.

A few days later it began transmitting again - 10 miles offshore in the North Sea - and continued to provide GPS data for two days as if floating on the ocean.

Mr Packham, who is one of the best-known wildlife campaigners in the country, believes Fred was deliberately killed.

He said: “Once again, we have the suspicious disappearance of a satellite-tagged golden eagle in an area managed for driven grouse shooting.

"What’s truly shocking about this case is that it didn’t take place in a remote Highland glen miles from anywhere, but it happened within a stone’s throw of Edinburgh, right under the noses of the Scottish Government.

"What must the good people of Edinburgh think, to learn that golden eagles aren’t even safe on their doorstep?

"That they’ve been denied the opportunity to see this iconic, magnificent bird in their local hills?"

Data from Fred’s tag showed he stayed within his parents’ territory around Peeblesshire for several months after fledging but in mid-January he made his first exploratory flight away from home.

He headed to the Pentland Hills and spent a few days woodland hopping around the northern edge.

His tag continued to work perfectly and provided researchers with accurate and frequent GPS locations.

On Saturday, January 20 Fred roosted overnight in a shelter belt overlooking a grouse moor near Balerno.

His tag continued to record his position until just before 10am the following day - then suddenly it stopped.

On the evening of Wednesday, January 24 Fred’s tag began transmitting again from the middle of the North Sea.

GPS data continued for two days, showing his final position at approximately 15 miles offshore.

Dr Tingay told us: “It is beyond doubt that Fred’s disappearance is highly suspicious.

"Golden eagles don’t generally fly out for miles over large bodies of sea water but even if Fred had done so, apart from defying everything we’ve learned about Scottish golden eagle behaviour, we would have seen excellent tracking data plotting his route given the reliability of his tag.

“While we will probably never know for sure, it seems likely that Fred was killed soon after 10am on January 21, his tag was hidden to suppress the signal and then he and the tag were dumped in the North Sea.

"If this is indeed the case, it’s just the latest example of when those who have killed a protected bird of prey have tried to cover up evidence of their crime."

Wildlife officers from both Police Scotland and RSPB Scotland have been drafted in to help determine the cause of Fred's death.

Last year a Scottish Government-commissioned report showed that 41 of 131 satellite-tagged golden eagles had disappeared -presumed dead - in suspicious circumstances near grouse moors in Scotland.

In response to the findings, Environment Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham ordered a review of grouse moor management practices with a view to introducing a licensing scheme for game-shooting estates.

Plans are already in place to begin releasing between five and ten young golden eagles in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway over the next four years as part of The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

But Mr Packham is fearful for their future.

He added: "This doesn’t bode well for the planned reintroduction of golden eagles to south Scotland, due to begin later this year."

Anyone with information about Fred’s disappearance is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.