Norfolk Police appeal as otter dies after being shot in the head near Aylsham
An otter has been euthanised after it was shot in the head with an "air weapon".
The animal was found in Buxton near Aylsham, Norfolk on Wednesday, but is thought to have travelled some distance before being discovered, Norfolk Police said.
The otter was put down due to the severity of its injuries and the force is appealing for anyone in the area with information to come forward.
PC Chris Shelley said: 'This is a deeply upsetting incident involving a protected species.
"We are urging anyone who may have seen suspicious activity involving air weapons, slingshots, or similar devices in the area to come forward.'
Otters are protected under UK and European law and the use of air weapons and similar devices against wildlife has been "a growing concern nationally", Norfolk Police said.
A dedicated police operation - Operation Lakeshot - has been launched to better understand and tackle the crime.
Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Chris Shelley via email at Christopher.shelley@norfolk.police.uk, quoting incident number 36/36976/25.
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It was previously searched by divers in 2008 after Portuguese lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia ordered them to look to see if Madeleine McCann's body was there. Nothing was found.
