A gunman is being hunted by police after a swan was found shot dead at a Sheffield nature reserve.
Tests on the bird, which was found dead at Beighton Marsh, have revealed it was hit by three airgun pellets. Local bird lovers fear the swan was deliberately targeted.
Four other swans have disappeared from the nature reserve since May – and, before they went missing, another swan had to be put down after it was found with a badly damaged wing.
As native wild birds, swans are protected by law and it is illegal to capture, injure or kill them, or to damage their nests or eggs.
Peter Wolstenholme, a regular visitor to the nature reserve, said he was very upset by the latest disappearance.
"Local schools use the reserve for environmental education including pond-dipping and bird-watching," he said.
"Visitor numbers increased when a pair of swans nested in May – the first time for several years. But the male swan was put down by the RSPCA due to a badly damaged wing, possibly caused by a dog attack.
"The female then hatched three cygnets, but shortly afterwards one disappeared.
"The two remaining cygnets had grown well by the third week in July – but then one went missing, followed shortly afterwards by the adult female.
"The lone cygnet disappeared two days later." He said the male swan killed by the airgun pellets was one half of a newly-arrived pair, which flew into the marsh earlier this month.
"We were delighted in early November when a pair of swans appeared on the marsh," he said.
"Sadly their stay has been cut short now the male has been found dead."
Anyone with information can call police on 0114 220 2020.
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