In the following passage some of the words have been deleted, Read the passage carefully and select the correct answer for the given blank out of the four alternatives.

Red kites were considered vermin across Britain and Ireland (1) __________ the 16th century and their numbers were rigorously (2) __________ .While public perceptions have changed, gamekeepers and farmers still (3) __________ shoot, poison and trap red kites for the (4) __________ harm they cause to livestock and game. In 2020 alone, 20 red kite were confirmed to have been (5) __________ this way in the UK.