Groups of youths using catapults are “lamping” and killing sleeping parakeets in a south-east London park, an animal rescue worker has warned.
Rae Gellel, director of the Greenwich Wildlife Network, said 43 ring-necked parakeets have been recovered dead from Priory Gardens in Orpington over a three-week period, including five found on Monday.
She said the birds roost together in trees at night, making them easy targets for the culprits who shine bright lights at them to stun them before shooting them with catapults.
Bromley Council said the killing of the birds “continues to be a concern” that it is assisting the police in its investigation.
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Gellel said catapult attacks at the park date back to 2020, with target species ranging from squirrels, pigeons, coots and ducks to the recent wave of parakeet killings.
