AN APPEAL has been launched by the RSPCA after a badger was shot in the head in Barnt Green and had to be put down.
The animal welfare charity was called to Upper Bittell Reservoir around 10am on Thursday after a member of the public found a badger with a serious head injury.
Badgers are protected by law and RSPCA Inspector Graeme Brookes is now investigating. He is asking anyone with further information contact him as soon as possible.
He said: “This poor badger was still alive when I found him but was in an awful state with a serious injury to his head.
“He was collapsed and unresponsive with very shallow breathing.
“There were maggots in the wound with dried blood around it.
“Sadly he would not have survived his injuries so had to be put to sleep to ease his suffering.”
He expressed his concerns about how the badger came to be so badly injured.
Mr Brookes added: “Thanks to the team at RSPCA Birmingham Animal Hospital his body was x-rayed which revealed the badger had been deliberately shot.
“We share our space with wildlife and they deserve our respect and kindness. Animals feel pain and it’s awful to think that anyone could take pleasure from targeting a living creature.
“Badgers are also protected by their own law – the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 – in addition to other wildlife legislation and it is an offence to kill, injure or take a badger.
“Only those with a special licence from Natural England are permitted to cull them.”
He urged anyone with information on the incident to call the inspector’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
RSPCA campaign
Badgers and their setts continue to be targeted by wildlife criminals.
The RSPCA successfully campaigned for better protection for badgers, and continues to help enforce the law by assisting with police investigations or prosecuting people involved in wildlife crime such as badger digging and baiting.
Further work is also under way by the RSPCA to strengthen the legal protection afforded to wild animals such as badgers, so they can be even more safeguarded against crimes such as this in the future.
Specialist RSPCA inspectors from the Special Operations Unit have helped bring a number of successful badger digging cases before the courts. Some of these have involved the application of advanced forensic techniques using DNA evidence.
To report cruelty to an animal, and help protect wildlife, please visit the RSPCA’s website.
