28 April 2016
A protected bird of prey found
shot in a field was killed in a "shocking act of cruelty", police
have said.
The red kite was discovered
injured by a walker on farmland around Nidd, near Harrogate, on Saturday.
North Yorkshire Police said it
had been shot multiple times while it was flying and had to be put down by a
vet because "its wing was so severely damaged".
It is the second rare bird to
have been shot in the county within the last month.
An adult female red kite was
found injured at Low Marishes, near Malton, on 25 March and was treated at a
rescue centre.
Red kites are protected
under schedule
1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and anyone found killing
one can face up to six months in jail.
Officers said the rare bird had
survived the shooting but was unable to fly. It was found by the walker two
days after it had been shot in the chest and underside of its wing.
PC Gareth Jones said: "Red
kites are majestic birds that mainly feed on carrion and pose no threat to game
birds, farmed animals or pets. It has taken many years to re-introduce red
kites after their extinction from the UK by persecution.
"People in Harrogate have
become used to seeing red kites soaring above the town and will be shocked by
this meaningless and cruel act.
"I would ask members of the
public who were in the areas of Nidd, Brearton and Scotton on Thursday or
Friday last week to contact North Yorkshire Police if they have any information
that could assist the investigation."
There are about 1,000 red kites
in England.
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