Youths shoot sleeping parakeets with catapults in Orpington park
Animal rescue group calls for stricter sales regulations on catapults after dozens of birds found dead.
Incident → evidence → outcomeDozens of ring-necked parakeets have been found dead in Priory Gardens, Orpington, in what animal welfare campaigners describe as deliberate cruelty. Over a three-week period, 43 dead parakeets were recovered from the park, with five found on a single Monday. The birds are targeted while roosting at night, with perpetrators using bright lights to stun them before shooting them with catapults.
Rae Gellel, director of the Greenwich Wildlife Network, warned that the attacks have been ongoing since 2020. Initially targeting species such as squirrels, pigeons, coots, and ducks, the recent focus has been on parakeets. Ammunition including ball bearings, nuts, and bolts has been found at the scene, causing severe injuries to the birds.
Council and police investigation
Bromley Council has stated that the killing of the birds is a continuing concern. The local authority is providing assistance to the police as they investigate the incidents. A council spokesperson acknowledged the distress caused by the maiming or killing of birds, thanking local residents and the Friends of Parks group for their vigilance.
Some individuals involved in the attacks have been filming the incidents and sharing the footage on social media platforms like TikTok. The Greenwich Wildlife Network is advocating for increased prioritisation of wildlife crime by law enforcement agencies.
Calls for regulation
The Greenwich Wildlife Network is calling for stricter regulations on the sale of catapults to individuals under the age of 18. While acknowledging that ring-necked parakeets are an invasive, non-native species, the network stresses that this classification does not permit deliberate cruelty. Legal welfare standards, they argue, still apply to all animals, and grievous injury inflicted by a catapult attack should not be disregarded.
BBC London reported on similar calls for a catapult sales ban in April, following earlier attacks on wildlife in the same park. The network highlighted that even where wildlife control is lawful, it must adhere to specific conditions and welfare requirements.
Questions this report answers
01How many parakeets have been found dead in Orpington?
Over a three-week period, 43 dead ring-necked parakeets were recovered from Priory Gardens in Orpington. Five of these birds were found on a single Monday, indicating a concentrated period of attacks.
02What is being done to address the killings?
Bromley Council is assisting the police in an ongoing investigation into the killing of the birds. The Greenwich Wildlife Network is also calling for stricter regulations on the sale of catapults to under-18s and greater prioritisation of wildlife crime.
03Have these attacks happened before?
Yes, catapult attacks on wildlife in Priory Gardens date back to 2020. Previously, various species including squirrels, pigeons, coots, and ducks were targeted before the recent focus on parakeets.
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