Swan shot in ‘incredibly upsetting’ incident, says charity

A swan found on a town’s high street was later discovered to have been shot in what a wildlife charity has described as “incredibly upsetting”.

Charity Swan Support said it was called to a swan on Bartholomew Street in Newbury after eyewitnesses had seen it fall from the roof of a building.

The charity said when the swan had been checked over, a suspicious lump was found, and a subsequent X-ray showed three airgun pellets lodged in the swan’s body. It said the swan survived and had since undergone surgery.

Thames Valley Police said the incident had been filed pending new information coming to light and anyone with information should call 101.

In a statement posted on social media on Thursday, the charity said: “It is incredibly upsetting to think that someone had deliberately targeted this beautiful swan.”

It continued: “Sadly, this is not an isolated issue.

“Deliberately targeting or harming swans and other wildlife is a crime, and many of the species we share our rivers and countryside with are protected.”