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19
Jan 2022
Last Updated: 19/01/2022
Fears that 15 cockerels have been shot on moors near Ripon
Former Ripon mayor John Richmond fears about 15 cockerels have been shot and fed to dogs or ferrets after they went missing from a flock that he and other animal lovers feed on the moors near Kirkby Malzeard.
Stray cockerels cared for by volunteers on moors near Ripon have gone missing amid fears they have been killed and fed to dogs or ferrets.
Animal lover John Richmond, a former mayor of Ripon, and eight volunteers set up a daily rota to tend to up to 30 abandoned birds.
But last week only 15 could be found at 'Cockerel Corner' between Kirkby Malzeard and Dallowgill, where they normally gather to be fed.
Following a thorough search of the moorland undergrowth, one of the birds was found dead with a pellet hole in its chest.
Mr Richmond told the Stray Ferret:
"I believe that the birds, who have become very tame and trusting, came out expecting to be fed and half of them were shot by a person or persons with air rifles and the carcasses taken off in a vehicle to be fed to dogs or ferrets. I have reported this to North Yorkshire Police.
"In the meantime the team of volunteers, who come from Harrogate, Ilkley, Knaresborough and Masham are determined to keep feeding the remaining hungry cockerels, though it is proving difficult to get the birds to come out of the undergrowth at feeding time.
"The birds clearly remain traumatised by what they have experienced and we are at a complete loss to understand why anybody would do this to harmless creatures."
The former mayor, who was awarded the British Empire Medal last year for services to the community, took over feeding the cockerels when his cousin Ken Ellis became too poorly to continue the daily task.
Mr Ellis died in July and since then a growing number of volunteers have been assisting Mr Richmond in looking after the birds.
Mr Richmond, who is 86, added:
"I am still looking for more volunteers who can help out with looking after the cockerels and if they want to know more, they can contact me on 01765 607 096."
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