60 birds clubbed to death on Dailly estate

Aug 29 2008 by Edwin Lawrence

A SICK intruder clubbed 60 young pheasants to death in a bizarre incident at a South Ayrshire estate.

The intruder forced his way through a wire fence to gain access to a large pen at Bargany Estate, near Dailly.

And he bludgeoned the timid young birds to death, for no apparent motive.

A police spokesman said: “This crime wasn’t for food or financial gain, and certainly not for animal rights. It appears to be just pure badness.”

Other pheasants escaped through the gap in the fence left by the intruder or intruders.

Police found a host of dead, injured and traumatised birds when they attended the scene.

The large pen, in a remote wooded part of Bargany, is used to rear and acclimatise young pheasants, in readiness for the shooting season.

They are brought in as chicks, to be fed, watered and nurtured until ready to fly.

Only the 6ft fence gives an indication that there’s something there, in an otherwise natural wilderness setting.

Police say they are following a positive line of enquiry in relation to the senseless crime.

It occurred on an otherwise tranquil Sunday, August 17, sometime between 4 and 9pm.

Anyone who can help the police is asked to call PC Donald Neil at Girvan police office on 01465 715314.