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Swans killed in canal attacks
Monday 5th January 2009, 11:30AM GMT.
Two swans have been killed in Wednesfield and one badly injured in Willenhall in attacks condemned today by an animal charity.
The dead birds, which appear to have been shot, were recovered from the Wyrley & Essington Canal, in the town centre yesterday.
British Waterways employees were called to recover the bodies from the frozen canal at 12.30pm.
The adult female appeared to have been shot in the eye and the cause of the young cygnet’s death is still unknown. The birds had been seen swimming freely on Saturday at 6.30pm.
Wednesfield resident Tony Croton saw the dead birds.
“It is most concerning for both local residents and wildlife that some mindless idiot is roving the canal with a gun,” he said.
Another swan near Menai Close, Willenhall, about two miles along the same canal, was also injured with blood stains near its tail.
Anyone with information should contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
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this is disgusting.
No reason for this mindless behaviour.
i can just imagine it being some mindless youth that has nothing better to do that to cause cruelty to animals.
i know thats going to sound stareotypical and i dont care.
Whomever it is, should be shot themselves and left to beed it out. but, that’d never be allowed….
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Agree with #1. This is out of order and obviously done by someone with limited brain cells. There is no need for cruelty to defenseless animals at all.
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I hope I see them if I’m walking down the towpath. Hope they can swim with a pellit Gun shoved up the you know where!
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The senceless killing of these two defenceless creatures beggers belief, only at the weekend my wife, a regular walker along this stretch of canal, was feeding these beautiful birds with the grand children. I feel that if I saw this cruelty firsthand I would have no hesitation in taking the guns of these lowlife scum and shooting them myself, regardless of any consequencies
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I saw the dead swans just before British Waterways staff removed them. Something broke in me, a heavy sadness descended. The image of two majestic creatures dead in the water will haunt me. I had hoped the swans had died a natural death, perhaps because of the freezing cold, as I did not want to think a so called human being could do such a thing. I hope whoever shot the swans rots in hell. Hang the lowlife scum, I’d happily do it.
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I hate to say it, but wildlife should be moved OFF the canal in Wednesfield. We have had dumped oil, I have seen a deliberately smashed coot/moorhen nest with eggs and now two swans shot dead. This sort of behaviour tarnishes our village and its otherwise good name. The canal is an asset for our village and is enjoyed by many. What sort of lowlife tries to ruin it? They’re beyond belief.
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Lets not forget that the adult male swan was also killed (speared I believe) on the same stretch of canal just a few months ago. Probably done by the same psychopath. Never mind …. nothing will be done about it. If the garbage gets caught no doubt its punishment will be a court order not to keep pets for 3 months. We just need to keep quiet, keep on paying the taxes to fund said garbage, and accept that we all have to live in a slum without anything beautiful around us. I’ve lived in Wednesfield for each of my 50 years, but this is the last straw.
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It goes with the territory I’m afraid. It’s not uncommon to read of mindless yob’s causing mayhem in sub-zero temperatures; indeed, on several occasions I witnessed such behaviour despite the fact it was so cold I could barely move. It needs more than the RSPCA here: it needs for these people and their offspring to be plastered right across the press. As well as a significant fine.
Pathetic scum who’s only means of proving they exist is to pick on defenceless animals taking shelter..sad.
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It’s time we do something ourselves. If anyone finds out who did it, let me know.
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