Police on Man Hunt To Find Person Who Shot Swan in Face and Left It for Dead
Animal cruelty is a horrible thing. Understand that I’m not talking about the eating of meat or sport hunting.
We can debate those subjects as much as we’d like, but they’re a far cry from the wanton infliction of suffering on another living creature. That’s an evil that people have recognized as such from time immemorial.
Even the Bible reads, “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.” Indeed, the horrible actions of people toward beautiful swans in recent years only confirms the truth of that axiom.
A malefactor attacked a well-known swan in southwest England in 2017, according to the BBC. The swan, named George, frequented Cheltenham’s Pitville Park.
But one day, a park goer discovered George with a crossbow bolt protruding from his head. Someone had fired at the bird without provocation, an attack that caused the swan to lose an eye.
After a member of the public discovered him, George quickly received medical attention. Gloucestershire Police also opened an investigation into the incident.
A swan in Wylam, Northumberland, England, was a similar circumstance. According to the Evening Chronicle, the case began with what appeared to be a collision between the swan and a car.
The animal-welfare nonprofit Blyth Wildlife Rescue quickly gave medical attention to the animal. At first, the bird appeared unharmed, a fortunate occurrence.
But after further investigation, the organization discovered something horrible: The swan had a large slug buried just behind its beak.
“The young swan was rushed back to charity ICU where fluids and painkillers were administered,” the organization stated.
“Charity medics worked successfully to remove the ball-bearing shot from just beneath the skin at the base of the beak, weighing in at nearly eight grams and leaving a big hole in the bird’s face.”
Further X-rays revealed a second piece of metal buried further in the swan’s head. However, veterinarians decided not to risk a second procedure and let the swan mingle with others of its kind.
The organization has continued to monitor the animal, making sure that its condition doesn’t worsen. In the meantime, Northumbria Police have opened an investigation, attempting to find the perpetrator of the cowardly assault.
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