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Little Bustard shot in Norfolk, Police and RSPB appeal for information

Norfolk Police and the RSPB have appealed for anyone with any information about the shooting of a Little Bustard in Norfolk last month, to come forward.

The dead Little Bustard was found on a roadside near Blofield, east of Norwich (© RSPB)

The bird was discovered dead on a road close to the village of Blofield, five miles from Norwich, on January 22nd and the RSPB and Norfolk Police were informed.

A post-mortem veterinary examination found that the bird had very recently been shot and that this had caused its death.

The Little Bustard is a pheasant-sized member of the bustard family native to the grassland plains of the steppe in southern Europe and Asia. Although there is a breeding population in France it is a very rare vagrant to the UK.

Mark Thomas, Senior Investigations Officer with the RSPB, said, “Little Bustards are protected at all times of year and are the focus of intensive conservation efforts in the countries where they breed.

“Evidence suggests that this bird is likely to have died very close to the location where it was shot although it is unknown how it ended up on a road near Blofield.”

During the winter of 2014/2015 Little Bustards were seen in Dorset, Sussex and Yorkshire. (© RSPB)

Inspector Jon Papworth, of Norfolk Constabulary, said: “It is a crime to intentionally shoot a Little Bustard, as it is with all protected birds. We are keen to hear from anyone who knows the circumstances of what happened in this case.”

Please contact Inspector Papworth by calling Norfolk Police on the non-emergency number of 101.

 

RSPB
13 February 2015

 

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