Swan shot in head on Clapham Common
The RSPCA are investigating after rescuing the animal
A swan has been shot in the head on Clapham Common - prompting investigation.
The RSPCA found the injured bird after a member of the public called the animal welfare charity at 10am on Tuesday 12th December.
RSPCA animal rescue officer (ARO) Jade Guthrie responded to the call.
Jade said on the incident:
“I suspected the swan had been shot as there was a wound on each side of his head.
"I collected him and took him to Swan Support, where vets confirmed he had been shot with a suspected airgun following an x-ray.
“Thankfully while he needs antibiotics, he is expected to make a full recovery and can then be returned to the wild
“Sadly, the targeting of wild and domestic animals in this way isn’t uncommon. RSPCA officers see incidents throughout the year involving cats, geese, swans and gulls who have been horribly maimed or killed outright in airgun attacks.
"The cases we hear about are only likely to show part of the problem as not all of them will be reported to us directly and there may be situations where animals injured and killed by these weapons are sadly never found - especially in the case of wildlife.”
The RSPCA are calling for change
The RSPCA is continuing to call for stricter regulations around owning an airgun in both England and Wales.
They are also asking for better education, basic safety training for owners and a thorough explanation of the law - including our legal obligations towards animals - which they say could help protect countless animals from such attacks in the future.
The charity have urged anyone with information about the swan shooting is urged to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference number 01196164.
For any further information or to report a concern for the welfare of an animal, you can visit the RSPCA website.