A swan had to be put down after being shot with ball bearings to its head and neck. Kirsty Marina discovered the injured bird at Hendre Lake in Cardiff on Tuesday night.
Together with others, she rescued the swan and took it to a veterinary surgery, in the hopes that it could be saved. But tragically, its injuries were so severe, a decision was made to euthanise it.
Rescue and veterinary treatment
Ms Marina has hit out at those responsible, and asked the public to report such incidents.
She said: "On Tuesday evening, I came across an injured swan on Hendre Lake. Some people helped me rescue him where he was taken the Valley Vets Hospital, desperately hoping that he could be saved."
Fatal injuries from ball bearings
"This beautiful, innocent swan had suffered fatal injuries after being shot with 10mm ball bearings. Three were found in his head and another in his neck."
"It makes me sick that someone deliberately fired at this living, completely defenceless animal."
"He hadn’t done anything wrong. He wasn’t a nuisance. He was simply living his life. He had a mate. He had a family. He had multiple cygnets depending on him and tonight, that swan family lost him."
"His injuries were so severe that the heartbreaking decision had to be made to euthanise him and end his suffering."
Appeal for information
Ms Marina added: "I stayed with him throughout the process and despite everything he had been through, he was so incredibly gentle."
"He allowed us to help him, and all I could think about was how much pain and fear this poor animal must have been experiencing."
"Please, if you see anyone shooting at animals or behaving suspiciously around our lake, please report it."
"And please remember that the wildlife around us isn’t there for our entertainment or target practice. They are living, feeling creatures. They experience fear. They experience pain. They have families."
She added: "One family lost a father and a partner because someone chose to shoot him. He deserved better than this."
"The more people who know what happened, the harder it becomes for incidents like this to be ignored."
