Red-footed Falcon shot in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire Police, the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSPB are appealing for anyone with information about the shooting of a Red-footed Falcon to come forward after the body of the protected bird of prey was found near Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire in September.
A post-mortem examination carried out after the body was passed to the RSPB has confirmed that the bird, a young (sub-adult) male, had been recently shot and that this was the cause of death.
The wildlife charity is offering a reward of £1,000 for information about the shooting.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary Wildlife Crime Officer Alun Bradshaw said: "It’s awful that this rare bird has been needlessly and cowardly shot in the county.
"We take these matters seriously and are asking for anyone with information to contact us or Crimestoppers.”
The RSPB have also confirmed that the shot Red-footed Falcon is the same individual that birdwatchers and nature lovers in the Midlands and East of England had delighted in seeing since it was first spotted in Stoke, Staffordshire in July this year.
RSPB Senior Investigations Officer Mark Thomas said: "The death of this beautiful and rare bird is sickening, it has spent nearly three months touring the UK and delighting thousands of people only to be shot dead in Cambridgeshire.’
"I only hope that someone who knows something about the circumstances in which this bird was killed will share any information they have to help the police in their investigation.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Cambridgeshire Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
RSPB
24 November 2015
