Brutal Swan Shooting Sparks Horror at Southmere Lake
Detectives from the Met Police Wildlife Crime Unit have launched a probe after a swan was callously shot dead while nesting on her eggs.
Innocent Swan Killed Twice as She Tried to Escape
The female swan was found with a gunshot wound to the head at Southmere Lake, SE2. She had been incubating her eggs for about a month when she was shot twice—the second bullet seemingly fired as she tried to flee.
Her tragic death means her precious eggs will never hatch.
Grieving Partner Left Beside Lifeless Swan
Swans are known for forming lifelong bonds. Heartbreaking images show her partner mourning beside her body the morning after the shooting.
Wildlife Crime Unit Demands Justice
It’s sickening to think someone deliberately targeted the swan during such a vulnerable time. The cruel attack happened on 26th July 2021 under the footbridge near Bazalgette Way.
All wild birds, including swans, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Killing them without a licence carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
The Met Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. Call 101 quoting reference 3483/28JUL21.
