Two swans have been found dead after being shot in Aberdeenshire.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity was alerted last Wednesday when the dead birds were discovered on the beach at St Combs in Fraserburgh.
The female swan was found to have one shotgun pellet in her body while the male bird had four, the Scottish SPCA said.
Inspector Fiona Shand said: “A post-mortem has revealed the pair died from a massive haemorrhage caused by gunshot trauma.
“We don’t think the swans were residing at the beach but the Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve is nearby and swans are known to live there.
“We aren’t sure how they came to be on the beach. The bodies may have been dumped there or could have been washed ashore.
“This sort of animal cruelty is completely unacceptable and we are urging people with any information to contact us in an effort to trace whoever is responsible.”
Last week, the charity said a swan shot with an arrow in a “cruel and mindless” attack was found next to its dead mate at an estate in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
The surviving bird had an arrow stuck in its wing and a further two arrows were found in the water and on the bank.
