Yahoo News Outrage as young boys holding catapults seen posing with dead ducks on social media
Police are appealing for information after pictures emerged on social media of two boys holding the lifeless bodies of ducks in one hand and a catapult in the other.
The pictures, that were originally posted on Instagram before being shared on Facebook, show the youngsters smirking as they hold the lifeless bodies of the birds.
They appeared on the Orpington Gossip Facebook page just hours after locals raised concerns about cruelty to Geese in St Paul’s Cray Recreation Ground.
One woman wrote on Facebook: “I saw one lad tormenting a goose on the grass and confronted them.
“I returned to the goose to find it sat in a pool of blood, pouring with blood from its head and wing.
“It turns out that the same group of youths were seen an hour early with catapults and scared off by a local resident.”
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She added: “This is not the first time this has happened by all accounts and I recall seeing RSPCA signs there previously warning rock throwing youths they were being watched.”
Police said they were “sickened” by the “recent actions of some against our local wildlife” and are now seeking those responsible.
They added: "We are looking into it and want to see those responsible brought to justice…
"If the community have any information, including images of any damage caused, of those responsible or if they know the identities of those involved please get in touch.
"Whilst there will be patrols in the affected areas by locals police and Bromley Council Ward Security, we’d like to encourage anyone who witnesses any further incidents to contact police as soon as possible.”
Anyone who has witnessed any incidents of cruelty against waterfowl in and around the Orpington area are asked to get in touch with police by emiling Crayvalleywest.snt@met.police.uk.
