The BBC's popular Springwatch show has been hit with a number of complaints after airing a video that many found upsetting. Several viewers reacted with surprise and anger after and episode showed a bird of prey being cruelly beaten.
Presenter Frank Gardner presented a report about birds of prey being illegally killed. Within the report footage was aired of a gamekeeper seemingly beating a buzzard to death with a stick.
Viewers of the show said that the video was "awful" and some said they were left in tears, reports BirminghamLive. Many found it difficult to watch and voiced their concern over the show that is popular among children as well as adults.
READ MORE John Bishop pays tribute to beloved pet as his family suffers another loss
"Springwatch. I've literally just watched a man trap and beat a buzzard to death with a stick," said another Twitter user.
"Springwatch are showing the amount of them being killed. Someone just battered a buzzard to death," another said. A fellow fan called for the gamekeeper to be "jailed".
"It was so hard to watch. Why did that evil little man get a suspended sentence when you had the vile little stain bang to rights?" asked a viewer. A second typed: "Awful, awful the suffering and pain I couldn’t watch."
"The footage is just horrific. I saw it a while back and it left me feeling broken, physically sick, in tears and helpless," another chimed in by saying.
"But these things need to be seen, nothing comes from being silent about the wrongs in the world. Keep up the good work exposing these scum!"
This week's BBC episodes have seen Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan appreciate spring’s simple wildlife pleasures at RSPB Arne in Dorset and reveal some truly astonishing footage, documenting the life cycle of a jellyfish. Iolo Williams has moved to Studland Bay, a rich wildlife habitat that hosts a vast array of characters.
The sand dunes hide a myriad of species with some astonishing adaptations, which Iolo is primed to reveal. Gillian continued her deep dive into the Menai Straits and the wonderful wildlife it attracts.
READ NEXT
