A RARE bird found dead near the shores of a Highland loch was shot, according to the results of a post-mortem examination.
The black-throated diver was discovered by Scottish Government fisheries biologist Jim Raffell in mid-April at Loch Gowan, near Achnasheen, Ross-shire.
A post-mortem, carried out by Scottish Agricultural College vets on behalf of RSPB Scotland, revealed that the bird had been shot. Police inquiries have been unable to identify a suspect.
Now the wildlife charity is appealing for anybody who has knowledge of the incident to get in touch.
The news follows the announcement last week that the system of tethered rafts developed by conservationists in freshwater lochs in the Highlands over the past 20 years had helped grow the bird's population of 180 pairs to 240 pairs in 2012.
The black-throated diver breeds on freshwater lochs and winters at sea.
It is a very rare breeding species in the UK, confined to north and west Scotland. They are known for their elegant summer plumage, haunting calls and their tendency to mate for life. The dead bird is believed to have been one of a breeding pair.
A spokesman for RSPB Scotland said: "This is an appalling and inexcusable crime. Black-throated divers are stunning and very rare birds, with their UK stronghold in the Highlands of Scotland. It is truly shocking that one of these birds has been deliberately targeted, with a complete disregard for both the law and the rarity of this species."
Mr Raffell added: "To find a dead black-throated diver is very sad, but to then be informed that it had been shot caused me much upset and made me very angry.
"How any person could deliberately shoot such a beautiful, enigmatic and uncontroversial bird is outrageous. I hope that by raising awareness of this crime, it will never be repeated."
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