Two swans have been shot dead near a nature service in Aberdeenshire.
The dead birds were discovered on a beach at St Combs in Fraserburgh on Wednesday, March 23 near the Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve.
The Scottish SPCA said that the birds had been killed with a shotgun.
Inspector Fiona Shand said: "The female swan had one shotgun pellet in her body and the male swan had four shotgun pellets in his.
"A post mortem has revealed the pair died from a massive haemorrhage caused by gunshot trauma.
"We don’t think the swans were residing at the beach but the Loch of Strathbeg nature reserve is nearby and swans are known to live there.
"We aren’t sure how they came to be on the beach. The bodies may have been dumped there or could have been washed ashore.
"This sort of animal cruelty is completely unacceptable and we are urging people with any information to contact us in an effort to trace whoever is responsible."
Anyone with information should contact the Scottish SPCA’s Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
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