Two of the 15 white-tailed eagles that were reintroduced to Ireland last August have been found dead in Co Kerry.
It is not known how the two birds of prey died, but there is a suspicion they may have eaten poison. Tests will be carried out on the birds remains to determine the cause of death.
Last August, Minister for the Environment John Gormley released the white-tailed eagles into Killarney National Park after an absence of the bird for 80 years.
The bird, which can have a wing span of over 8ft and weigh up 16lbs, became extinct in Ireland around 100 years ago. It is one of the world's largest birds of prey and was once native to Kerry.
Minister for the Environment, John Gormley today expressed his regret and concern at the news that the two White-tailed Eagles have been found dead in Co Kerry.
Speaking today Minister Gormley said, "I travelled to Kerry last August to release a number of these Eagles in to the wild, under a reintroduction project that the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is carrying out with the Golden Eagle Trust. I understand that they were adapting well to their new environment so this is unhappy news."
The birds were imported as chicks from Norway in June. They were met by protests when they arrived at Kerry airport in Farranfore from 100 farmers over the threat the eagle could pose - to lambs in particular.
The birds were expected to disperse over the Kerry coast, and one eagle was seen preying on a gannet colony on Skellig Michael last September by a Kerry ferryman.