Protest over animals maimed and killed by catapults in Orpington park
A protest is due to take place in Orpington this weekend in response to a series of disturbing catapult attacks on wildlife, where animals have been found maimed, seriously injured or killed.
The demonstration has been organised by Rae Gellel and Greenwich Wildlife Network and will be held at 1.30pm on Sunday, April 6, at Priory Gardens.
Campaigners are calling on residents to join them at the main gate by Carlton Parade to distribute leaflets, speak to the public, and raise awareness.
According to Greenwich Wildlife Network, Priory Gardens has become a hotspot for catapult attacks, with incidents reported multiple times per week.
The group says that over the years, countless animals have been maimed or killed in the park, often suffering from horrific fractures, wounds and missing eyes.
They say the violence is not only impacting wildlife but has also affected people, pets, cars and businesses in surrounding roads.
Since its founding in 2018, the charity says it has received almost daily reports of animals being shot at with catapults in parks and green spaces across the boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley.
According to Greenwich Wildlife Network, culprits are often groups of boys aged between 12 and 18.
The most frequent victims are swans and geese, but foxes, squirrels and pigeons have also been targeted.
The weapons used include ball bearings, rocks, and even nuts and bolts.
The charity describes injuries ranging from fractured bones to animals losing eyes or dying outright from head trauma.
Volunteers have sometimes spent days or even weeks attempting to rescue injured animals using specialist equipment such as kayaks and net guns.
In some cases, the animals are never caught and are left to suffer for days before dying from their injuries.
In 2023, a group of youths shot a mallard in the head with a catapult at Southmere Lake in front of multiple witnesses.
The duck died shortly after, leaving behind six ducklings that volunteers were unable to catch, and which were later presumed dead.
In 2021, a Canada goose was shot in the neck at Danson Park and thrown into a bin while still alive.
There have been many more recent examples with several swan deaths and foxes found with multiple injuries.
The group says that despite repeated police reports and laws protecting wild birds under the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the Animal Welfare Act, perpetrators continue to return to parks and carry out attacks in broad daylight with impunity.
They say the same problem is being reported by other rescue organisations across the UK, including the Swan Sanctuary and South Essex Wildlife Hospital.
Some social media accounts have even been found proudly sharing images of wildlife that appear to have been shot and killed with catapults.
A parliamentary petition has been launched calling for it to be made illegal to carry catapults in public places, with or without ammunition, and for the sale of catapults and related ammunition to be restricted.
At the time of writing, the petition had received more than 18,000 signatures.
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