Police are hunting suspects after a swan was found dead having sustained serious head injuries.

A walker discovered the cygnet near the coach park off Kingsmead Road, Canterbury, which runs alongside the River Stour, at around 5.40pm on Sunday 11 February 2024.

Four teenage boys were reported to have been acting in an antisocial manner in the area at the time of the killing, and were spotted fleeing towards the nearby Sainsbury’s supermarket.

Leo Slayter says he spotted the cygnet’s body in brambles opposite the river while walking past two days later.

He said: “[I could see] the swan with its head lying at an angle and it dawned on me the creature was dead.

“A gentleman and his wife and children were sitting on a park bench near [where] the dead was situated.

“This gentleman came over to me while he was calling vets in Canterbury and assisted me in turning over the body of the swan to see if there were any visible injuries.

“It had blood around its eye, you could see clearly it had been shot with some type of weapon because was a tiny hole in the head area.

“It is a wicked horrible crime done to a beautiful, graceful bird.”

Swans belong to the crown which means their killing or injury could amount to criminal damage as well as a wildlife related offence.

The incident is being investigated by officers from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force who are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Please call the appeal line on 01843 222289 quoting reference 46/23687/24.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form.