The RSPCA is investigating after an entire family of swans - both parents and all five cygnets - were found dead after being "peppered" with airgun pellets.
The bodies of the birds were discovered wrapped in plastic bags and thrown down the bank of a stream in Stepneyford Lane, Benenden, Kent.
The animals' bodies were recovered today.
One x-ray shows the head and neck of the swan riddled with metal pellets.
RSPCA Inspector Dave Grant said: “Two of the birds bodies were examined by staff at RSPCA Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre in Hastings, East Sussex, and were x-rays revealed that they were peppered with shot or pellets.
“It’s clear that these poor mute swans have been shot and killed deliberately - one of the birds was peppered with pellets.
“It’s absolutely disgusting that someone would purposefully target and kill these beautiful birds, and it’s heartbreaking that an entire family has been wiped out in this cruel incident.”
PC Daniel Perry from the Kent Police Rural Task Force said: “Kent Police was called at around 10am on 24 November 2018 to a report a number of swans were found dead in plastic bags by a stream in Stepneyford Lane in Benenden.
“Officers from the Rural Task Force attended to carry out enquiries at the scene, and are continuing to assist the RSPCA to establish the circumstances of the incident.”
The RSPCA is calling for better regulation of air weapons after receiving 884 calls reporting air gun attacks on animals across England and Wales in 2017.
