| Police
and wildlife rangers in Hart district have
condemned the behaviour of those responsible for a
barbaric act of cruelty in Fleet Ponds on MONDAY
April 2. Officers
were called to Chestnut Grove at 4.15pm by a
member of the public reporting that he had found a
decapitated swan. On arrival, the adult male
swan’s head and body were found floating in a
small body of water next to Fleet Pond.
Wildlife
crime officer, PC Stacey Beale, said: “It would
appear that the swan was forcibly held down with
its neck held over a raised wooden edge. A knife
or sharp bladed article had then been used to cut
through his neck. Judging by the marks left on the
wood, this would have required some degree of
force.
“To kill a
large swan would have taken considerable effort;
the person or persons responsible would have been
splattered in blood and would possibly have
received injuries themselves. “We
are determined to find those responsible for this
sickening act. Were you in the area of the wooden
jetty at the end of Chestnut Grove between 3pm and
4.15pm on Tuesday?
“Did you
notice anyone fishing in the area or acting
suspiciously?
Did you see anyone splashed in
blood? “Did you see or
hear the swan being killed? Do you know who killed
this graceful bird? Anyone
with any information should contact PC Beale at
Hook police station on 0845 045 45 45 |