In May, our rescuer Michelle Mears organised a public meeting in Selsey, giving local residents the opportunity to raise serious concerns about birds and swans being targeted with catapults.
West Sussex Wildlife Protection has attended numerous incidents across East Beach Pond and other areas of the Manhood Peninsula where birds have been injured or killed, often as a result of catapult use by children. These attacks cause severe suffering and, in many cases, fatal injuries.
To ensure the issue was addressed properly, Michelle brought together a range of organisations to speak at the meeting, including Sussex Police and the Rural Crime Team, Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital, which has treated a number of affected birds, and local veterinary professionals. WSWP also spoke about the scale of the problem and the impact this cruelty has on wildlife.
Residents were given time to ask questions and share their own experiences, and the discussion was constructive and well attended. It was a positive and encouraging evening, highlighting the importance of community involvement in tackling wildlife crime.
We would like to thank Michelle for the considerable effort she put into organising the event, and for her continued commitment to improving protection for wildlife in the area, including her ongoing campaign for CCTV at East Beach Pond.