
Here is an article that appeared in several news outlets on the 4th Feb 2011, obviously not worth headlines as the following was concluded by the Police, Environment Agenc and the RSBP:
- A police spokesman said: "We were contacted by the Environment Agency and visited the scene on Tuesday alongside the RSPB. "We established no offences had been committed and no further action was taken."
I would like to remind you of something before you read this article.
- All swans are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 although the mute swan has had special protection since 1482 because the species is owned by the Crown.
There was even a case back in 2005, where the composer of Queen's music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, found himself in a spot of bother. After finding a dead swan he decided to take it home to eat, when police with a search warrant raided his home and seized the swan carcass as evidence. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies was informed that taking the bird home to eat was illegal and that he could face charges as it was illegal. Source
POACHERS have been accused of slaughtering 14 swans and cooking them on campfires at a popular beauty spot.
Headless swan carcasses stripped clean of meat were left lying in a row at Block Fen Lakes, in Mepal, Cambs.
Electrician Martin Audoire, 48, found the trail of devastation while walking round the lakes on Monday.
He also spotted the remains of three campfires - where the birds were possibly cooked - and reported his findings and suspicions to police and the RSPB.
But an initial investigation by the RSPB said that all 14 birds hit electric overhead power lines before their remains were eaten by wild animals.
Martin believes the lakes have been targeted in recent months by poachers from Eastern Europe stealing fish and birds to eat. Read more
Note: It seems experts are convinced that all of a sudden birds have lost the use of sight and direction; thousands have died in 2011 already, many with the most cruel of injuries. I for one don't buy it. If they are constantly flying into cars, lorries, buildings, powerlines and each other, could some experts explain why they have lost the use of their navigation? It would be much appreciated.