A seagull faced a shocking act of animal cruelty at a prison in Newport, England, where its head was painted with a swastika, and some of its feathers were forcefully removed. The bird, a Lesser Black Backed Gull, was rescued by Skippers Sanctuary after being taken from HMP Isle of Wight.
Upon arrival at the sanctuary on June 6, the gull was found traumatized and frightened. Reports indicated that it had lost some blood due to missing tail and flight feathers. A local news outlet mentioned that this incident involved a prisoner who had severely mistreated the bird.
Authorities were informed about the abuse, but it appears the inmate may face minimal consequences because the victim was not a person. A spokesperson from Skippers Sanctuary expressed frustration, stating that harsher penalties would likely apply if the victim were human.
Initially, the gull, later named Belinda, refused to eat and displayed extreme fear during her first night at the sanctuary. However, as time passed, she began to adjust and even spent a night outside with other welcoming gulls, which helped her feel more comfortable.
The sanctuary reported that Belinda would remain there for several months to recover fully, regrowing her feathers in a safe environment.
This incident is not isolated, as another bird named Sunshine was previously rescued from the same prison after being covered in yellow paint. Skippers Sanctuary continues to care for both disabled and unreleasable wild birds.
