Wildlife increasingly targeted with catapults as 'unspeakably cruel' games lead to painful deaths

Targetingwith catapults is on the rise, with "unspeakably cruel" games leading to slow, painful deaths.

The has highlighted a recentthat involved a group of teenage boys firing shots at a black-headed gull in a back garden. The bird's right elbow and wing bone were shattered by a metal shot and it was later dumped by a house in Northfleet, near Gravesend in Kent. "It is really sad this beautiful bird appears to have died after being deliberately targeted, perhaps as part of a cruel game and went on to experience horrendous injuries before dying," said RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Adam Tasker.

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He added: “The x-rays showed there was a round metallic foreign object eight millimetres (0.3in) in diameter near the bird’s right elbow. It caused a fracture which involved the humerus, radius and ulna and was consistent with a high impact trauma from being shot by a catapult.

"We are appealing for anyone who has any information about those responsible for this senseless killing to contact the RSPCA.”

The Greenwich Wildlife Network says incidents are being reported multiple times a week and it wants the law tightened to regulate catapults, and police to take more action against offenders. It is currently not illegal to buy or carry a catapult but causing an animal unnecessary suffering is an offence.

Wildlife groups claim many attacks are being carried out by teenagers using catapults rather than air rifles, which are restricted to individuals over 18. TheRSPCA says wildlife, pets and farm animals are being deliberately targeted with airguns, catapults and crossbows, adding: "These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering."

Recent reports include a fox found dead in a garden in Orpington, Kent. The vixen had a ball bearing lodged in her nose and a fatal wound to her middle. Another incident involved a mallard duck with its lower beak ripped off by a shot. It was found three days later, having starved to death.

Police are also appealing for information after a nesting female swan suffered serious injuries at Blackwater on the Surrey/Hampshire border at the weekend. It’s understood two youngsters with a catapult attacked the swan, which was nesting on an island at Swan Valley Lakes.It's now been closed off to protect her.

Paul Bloomfield from Swan Valley Lakes said it was awful to find her injured. "It's really disturbing," he said. "We've looked after the fishery and the wildlife here for some 20 years plus.

"It's really nasty to do something like that. She was stressed. She had numerous wounds on her neck and one on the top of her head, which was bleeding quite profusely."

Wildlife rescuer Daniel Rogers launched a petition, which has more than 20,000 signatures, to ban the sale and public possession of catapults. He said there had been dozens of serious and fatal attacks on wildfowl and swans at Shepperton Swan Sanctuary in Surrey.

The Home Office condemned "the thugs responsible for such vile and cowardly crimes", but added catapults are "routinely used by members of the public enjoying legitimate pastimes, in particular for anglers propelling bait".

It said the current legislation in this area "strikes the correct balance", and it would keep the issue under review.

To sign the petition and find out more .