RSPCA still investigating ten gull deaths in Yarmouth

The RSPCA is still appealing for information after a "suspicious number of dead gulls" were found on an industrial estate in Great Yarmouth in August.

One of the gulls was taken for a preliminary post-mortem examination which showed that the bird had been shot five times by an air gun.

A preliminary post-mortem was carried out on this bird and it was discovered that the gull had been shot five times (Image: RSPCA)

The gulls' bodies had been put in a skip and had been found either on the ground or on top of a warehouse roof in Harfrey’s Road.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA is still appealing for information after a suspicious number of dead gulls have been found on an industrial estate in Great Yarmouth.

“A preliminary post-mortem was carried out on this bird and it was discovered that the gull had been shot five times - with what was believed to have been an air gun. 

“Sadly the remaining gull's bodies were too decomposed to establish a cause of death - but given the large numbers found dead the RSPCA is treating it as suspicious."

A preliminary post-mortem was carried out on this bird and it was discovered that the gull had been shot five times (Image: RSPCA)

All wild birds, including swans, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take them except under licence.

If found guilty, the maximum penalty is six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Anyone caught deliberately using an air gun to injure an animal can face up to five years in prison and/or an unlimited fine if found guilty under the Animal Welfare Act.

RSPCA national wildlife coordinator Geoff Edmond said: “It is unspeakably cruel, totally unacceptable and illegal to shoot animals for fun - or as target practice, but sadly our emergency line is receiving hundreds of reports.

READ MORE: Calls to find python owner as rare snake found in Norfolk village

READ MORE: Norfolk town hit by 500pc increase in fly-tipping - but there's a good reason why

READ MORE: Ice cream van man caught drink driving after worried customers tipped off police

“We think of ourselves as a nation of animal lovers, but the RSPCA’s experience shows that there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with guns, catapults and crossbows. These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering. 

“Day after day, our frontline officers and animal centres see the sickening consequences of weapons being used on animals - severe injuries often leading to death.  

"And what we deal with is probably only the tip of the iceberg as not all cases will be reported to the RSPCA directly and there may be situations where animals injured and killed by these weapons are sadly never found - especially in the case of wildlife.” 

Since the beginning of 2020 up to May 2023, the RSPCA received 808 reports relating to animals being intentionally harmed with a weapon.

Air guns and rifles were responsible for the bulk of the incidents, with 658 reports made to the charity; but weapons such as catapults and slingshots accounted for a combined 124 incidents while there were 34 calls to the RSPCA about crossbow incidents.