A fund of £1,000 has been created as a reward for information which directly results in the conviction of anyone responsible for recent gull shootings and also a duck which was found with a dart lodged in its head at the weekend.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) and International Animal Rescue are creating the fund in the hope of deterring people from continuing the cruelty spree which seems to be occuring in East Sussex.

In the last three weeks seven birds have been shot and a duck has now been hit by a dart in the head. Luckily all these animals apart from one have so far survived.

On Sunday at 3pm WRAS received an emergency call about a duck which was hit in the head by a dart.

WRAS rescuer Barry Osbourne attended on site within five minutes and quickly caught the duck which was disorientated. The duck was taken to Horsebridge where it had the dart removed. Luckily the dart had not penetrated the skull. The bird was luckily fit for release later in the day and taken back to Hampden Park.

WRAS has even been contacted over the weekend about people at Princes Park trying to strangle swans.

"This information has come verbally from a visitor to the park so we don't know much information about this, but we are asking people to be vigilant and all to keep an eye open for anyone else who tries to injury or cause unnecessary suffering to our local wildlife," said Trevor Weeks, founder of WRAS.

"These incidents are cruel, it really makes me wonder what type of people they are – obviously not intelligent ones," added Trevor.
WRAS has been picking up the pieces from these cruelty cases over the past few weeks and the vets bills alone have totalled more than £1,000 and we hope this reward will help reduce down the problem and make people think that someone might report them.

"We will continue to work with Sussex Police in dealing with theses incidents and I hope someone comes forward and the police are able to prosecute someone for this cruelty," said Tim McKenze, WRAS Casualty Care Unit Manager. "Anyone with information is urged to telephone Sussex Police contact centre on 0845 60 70 999.


East Sussex WRAS is a voluntary organisation which relies on donations. We do not receive funding from government nor the RSPCA. Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact WRAS's treasurer Peter Mortimer at Ash Cottage, 73 Friday Street, Eastbourne, BN23 8AY. www.wildlifeambulance.org 24-hour rescue line: 07815 078 234.