Wildlife hospital near Chichester speaks out after pigeon is shot
A wildlife hospital near Chichester has spoken out after a pigeon was brought in with severe injuries after being shot, leaving it unable to fly.
The pigeon was brought to Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital in Sidlesham with a swollen, drooping wing and was unable to fly.
A volunteer vet examined the bird and, under general anaesthetic, carried out X-rays to establish the cause of its injuries.
The results revealed that the pigeon had been shot with a pellet, which had shattered its coracoid – a bone that plays an important role in supporting the wing.
Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital said it always tries to give injured animals the opportunity to return to the wild through treatment and rehabilitation wherever possible.
However, in this case, the injuries were beyond repair, and the difficult decision was made to put the pigeon to sleep to prevent further suffering.
The hospital said it was ‘devastating’ to see wildlife being deliberately targeted, warning that animals shot or attacked can sometimes survive for days or even weeks while suffering from their injuries before eventually succumbing.
The incident comes after dozens of dead pigeons and other birds were discovered at Chichester railway station.
Investigations into that incident revealed that several birds had been struck by ball bearings.
A spokesperson for Brent Lodge said: “It is always devastating to see such targeted attacks on our wildlife. Too often, animals that are deliberately targeted do not die immediately and can suffer silently for days or even weeks before succumbing to their injuries, unless they are fortunate enough to be found and rescued.
“If you witness a wildlife crime please call Sussex Police on 101 to report the incident as soon as possible. These reports help build evidence for stronger penalties and punishments for animal cruelty.”