A swan died after being shot in the head with a ball bearing in Beddington Park, South London, sparking outrage.
The swan was part of a couple. An X-ray showed a ball bearing went through the swan’s head, instantly killing her.
Danni Rogers volunteers at the Swan Sanctuary and finds it hard to see dead animals. She has volunteered for five years. The swan likely came close for food, then someone shot her right away. She was probably going to nest soon. It’s sad how they just left her.
Danni can’t grasp why anyone would do that and recalls simpler times as a child. Danni Rogers created a petition asking for a catapult ban which has gained almost 5,000 signatures already.
This latest event increased support. Danni says there were changes recently and estimates 15 or 16 attacks impacting water birds this year occurred in the South East region. Such attacks are becoming more common now.
Danni has been vegan for sixteen years. Attacks escalated during the last year, with two to four calls weekly. The petition gains support after an attack.
Danni feels a ban shouldn’t need signatures because British youths use these catapults a lot and the police are not really stopping it. Catapults are easy to get and cheap, with no age rules or public carry laws.
She thinks this creates opportunity for abuse, as people still see them as toys. It is awful to see animals dying this way and these weapons need to be banned now.
The petition needs more support. Ten thousand signatures get a response, while one hundred thousand signs lead to a debate in the House of Commons.