A buzzard similar to one found shot in the Camolin-Ferns area on Thursday

THE NATIONAL PARKS and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is appealing for information following a recent fatal shooting of a beautiful male buzzard in the Camolin-Ferns area.

A full investigation is ongoing on the matter, which is the second similar killing in a number of weeks.

On Thursday, the Irish Wildlife Sanctuary, based in Wells House, was alerted to the injured bird, which is protected under the Wildlife Act 1976, making it illegal to injure or kill it.

The bird of prey was picked up by sanctuary workers who were startled by how underweight and dehydrated it was and immediately placed it in critical care.

The following day, the buzzard was taken to the vet for an X-ray on its injured wing, which later transpired to be riddled with countless shotgun pellets. It is thought there were further bullet holes in the bird’s chest and other wing.

Sadly, there was little the sanctuary could do and the buzzard lost its fight for life on Saturday.

“We’re outraged, upset and can’t understand how someone could do this to such a magnificent animal,” said Heather Wall of the Irish Wildlife Sanctuary.

“We think it was shot over a week before we found it, so it would have been starving and in an awful amount of pain. It was a miserable, cruel, prolonged way to die. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

Ms. Wall said what made the incident even more disturbing was the fact another buzzard was shot and killed in the same area just 10-12 weeks ago.