JSPCA
PRESS RELEASE
June 2007
18 HERRING GULLS VICTIMS OF MALICIOUS ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
In the early morning of Monday 18th June 2007, the
JSPCA Animals’ Shelter was alerted by the Police to a horrific incident
involving a large number of Herring Gulls that had taken place at La
Pulente in St Ouens Bay.
The JSPCA Animal Welfare Officer immediately left to attend
the scene and found on arrival at the scene, along both
sides of the road at La Pulente, that there were the bodies of several
Herring Gulls, 15 in total. The
bodies of the dead birds exhibited injuries ranging from broken wings and
limbs to evisceration. There
was also the remains of domestic waste material in the middle of the road.
It was clear from the scene and the debris and scattered fragments
of clear and orange coloured plastic in the road that the Gulls had been
involved in a serious road traffic accident.
Three Gulls were found by the side
of the road that were still alive and these were immediately taken back to
the Animals’ Shelter for thorough assessment and treatment as indicated.
Unfortunately, the injuries these three individual birds had
sustained were very serious and extensive; one bird, a juvenile, had
received complicated fractures to both of its wings.
Due to the severity of the birds’ injuries, these three survivors
had to be euthansed.
This incident is very upsetting as such a large number of birds on the road at one time would have been clearly visible to any driver of a vehicle, which suggests that this horrific slaughter of wild birds was an act of intent.
Herring Gulls are protected under
the Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000, which makes it illegal to
intentionally injure or kill any gull.
This terrible incident is being treated very seriously and the
Police have already been notified of the event and are currently making
enquiries. Any member of the
public who may have further information about this terrible incident should
immediately contact the Police Station.