Police have launched an appeal after an osprey was shot in a Scottish national park, leading it to be put down due to the severity of its injuries. The bird was found on 12 August by a gamekeeper in the Glen Doll area in Angus – part of the Cairngorms National Park – which is home to a range of walking trails and is a popular birdwatching site. The osprey was visibly in distress, so the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) was called, and the bird was taken to the wildlife resource centre in Fishcross for treatment, Police Scotland said.
However, the bird was euthanised due to the severity of its injuries. “An animal rescue officer attended and transported the bird, which was unable to fly, to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre. Sadly, due to the severity of its injuries, the bird had to be euthanised,” a spokesman from the SSPCA told The Independent.
After further investigations into the bird’s injuries, X-rays revealed that the osprey had been shot, prompting Police Scotland to be called into the case. “It’s illegal to kill any protected species, and we’re working with partner agencies to fully investigate the circumstances,” Daniel Crilley, a detective constable with the wildlife crime investigation unit, said. “Information from the local community is vital and I’d ask anyone who was in the area around 12 August and thinks they may have information which could assist our enquiries to come forward,” he added.
“We’re keen.