Cornish bird hospital warns people to be kind to seagulls after violent attack in harbour
The herring gull lost its life after 24 hours
A bird hospital has warned people in Cornwall to be kind to seagulls on the coast, after a violent attack in Mousehole harbour led to an adult herring gull losing its life in 24 hours.
The gull reportedly stole an ice cream from a child, which prompted an attack by a member of the public who kicked it until someone picked up the gull and took it to Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital.
Mel Duffy, assistant warden at the hospital, said: "It was reported to us by a lady, the gentleman was seen kicking the gull after it knocked an ice cream out of the child's hand and continued to kick it until it tried to run away and couldn't get any further.
"At that stage she intervened and picked the gull up and brought it directly up to us.
"No matter the provocation please don't take it out on a living creature. There's been a 50% percent decline in the last 25 years for herring gulls, although we see an awful lot of them in Cornwall they are actually protected which makes it even more criminal".
The incident first saw the adult gull unable to stand or hold its head up, with no obvious external injuries or bleeding at first.
The hospital took it in and saw its condition deteriorate overnight with internal injuries meaning the seagull lost its life within a day, likely due to the attack on the harbour.
Mel continued: "Nine times out of 10 the birds don't survive which is very distressing for the observers and for us to see.
"All we want to do is do the best for the birds and there are times when we don't even get as far as to be able to give it pain relief. Sometimes the injuries are so severe that they have to euthanised immediately".
The hospital advises if you see an attack, not to interfere if there's a risk of violence but to call 999 or 101 and ask for a wildlife observer.