Who is killing Britain’s swans? Seven killed in 2024 utilizing catapults
- Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton reported 5 killings in first two weeks of 2024
A gang of thugs with catapults is being hunted after seven swans have been shot useless this yr alone in Surrey and Hampshire.
Four of the massive birds have been attacked – two killed – since January 27 in Godstone and Old Wokingham, Surrey, and Odiham in Hampshire.
Meanwhile, The Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton reported 5 savage swan killings within the first two weeks of 2024 in and round Surrey.
Danni Rogers, a volunteer for the sanctuary, advised MailOnline the ‘merciless’ and ‘evil’ assaults have left the swans in large ache.
‘We’re devastated. It’s not simply us who must take care of it day in and time out. It’s devastating for the wildlife and for the communities,’ he mentioned.
‘These animals are simply harmless victims of pure evilness.’
Horrific photos shared by the sanctuary present one swan with a swollen, bloodied face after he misplaced his eye throughout one of many ‘brutal’ assaults.
An injured swan is recovering after shedding his eye when shot with a catapult in Godstone
Volunteers perceive the swan assaulted in Godstone was hit by objects fired from a catapult
There have been seven studies of swans killed thus far this yr with two extra badly injured
Posting the pictures on Facebook, the sanctuary captioned their put up: ‘I’m past livid. Just in from Godstone rescued by Swans and Friends.
‘This lovely previous gentleman has misplaced his eye and has a second wound in his head. How can we cease this epidemic of cruelty and brutality.’
A petition to make the sale of catapults and ammunition and the carrying of the weapons unlawful has thus far acquired greater than 6,000 signatures. The petition must obtain 10,000 signatures in an effort to warrant a response from the federal government and 100,000 to be thought-about in parliament.
Mr Rogers was known as to a deadly assault on a swan in Old Woking on 27 January – with the chicken’s accidents understood to have been brought on by a BB gun.
Mr Rogers was later known as to an assault on two swans in Odiham on January 30, in line with the BBC, the place one chicken was killed and one other significantly injured.
Witnesses are understood to have seen thugs firing catapults into bushes beside the water.
Meanwhile, one other chicken was shot twice within the head with missiles from a catapult at Godstone on February 1, with the swan now recovering on the sanctuary.
Reacting to the assaults on X/Twitter, one livid animal lover wrote : ‘It’s tragic to listen to about such incidents. Safety measures round catapults should be reviewed and strengthened to stop additional hurt.’
Another wrote: ‘Why would anybody do that? They’re lovely. Even in the event that they weren’t it should not by no means occur!’
A 3rd added: ‘Why are individuals so evil.’
A Hampshire Police spokesperson mentioned: ‘We can affirm we acquired a report {that a} swan had been killed and one other had been injured on the Basingstoke Canal in North Warnborough.
‘It was reported to us at 1.44pm on Tuesday 30 January.
‘Anyone with info ought to name police on 101, quoting the reference quantity 44240043386.’
The Swan Sanctuary shared their fury on the assaults on Facebook as they look after a swan who misplaced his eye in a ‘brutal’ assault
A petition to make the sale of catapults and ammunition and carrying the weapons unlawful had thus far acquired greater than 6,000 signatures
Two ‘evil’ teenage thugs armed with catapults killed 4 swans and injured not less than a dozen in a savage assault at a rescue sanctuary, it was reported final yr
An RSPCA spokesperson mentioned: ‘Shocking catapult assaults towards animals are very distressing and unspeakably merciless. It is completely unacceptable – and in addition unlawful – to shoot animals for ”enjoyable” or as goal observe.
‘We consider ourselves as a nation of animal lovers, and we all know most individuals will likely be shocked to assume wildlife might be focused on this manner. But, sadly, the RSPCA’s expertise reveals that there are additionally individuals on the market who’re intentionally concentrating on wildlife, pets and cattle with not simply catapults – however weapons and even crossbows. These weapons trigger horrific ache and struggling.
‘All wild birds, together with swans, are protected underneath the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it’s an offence to deliberately kill, injure or take them besides underneath licence. The most penalty, if discovered responsible, is six months in jail and/or a vast advantageous.’
It comes after two ‘evil’ teenage thugs armed with catapults killed 4 swans and injured not less than a dozen extra in a savage assault at a rescue sanctuary, it was reported in March final yr.
The pair broke into the Swan Support sanctuary in Datchet, Berkshire final summer season and ‘tortured’ the animals by firing catapults throughout a sickening 20-minute assault.
One boy, 13, was convicted of inflicting pointless struggling to protected animals at Maidenhead youth courtroom final Tuesday, The Sun reported. He acquired a six-month referral order to a youth offending crew.
All unmarked mute swans present in open water in England are thought to be belonging to the King. The birds are protected by the monarch’s swan guard.
The ‘totally evil’ assault was caught on CCTV. Wendy Hermon, who runs the sanctuary, mentioned the footage left her ‘bodily sick’.
She mentioned the 2 catapult-wielding teenagers would choose up stones and fireplace them into the already injured swans because the birds ‘cowered in the back of their compound.’
