POLICE are investigating after 230 sick pheasants were battered to death and stolen from a West Lothian estate.
The birds were killed overnight between Friday and Saturday in the grounds of Hopetoun Estate. A pen that housed the pheasants was broken into, and the birds were killed before being taken away.
Police have warned that the pheasants were being treated for a respiratory disease with veterinary drugs, and as a result are not fit for human consumption.
A police spokesman said: "It is highly likely that whoever is responsible for killing the birds is looking to offer them for sale.
"These pheasants are likely to be in a bad condition, with bruising on their bodies, and we would ask people or businesses who suspect they may have been offered them for sale to contact police immediately.
"Similarly, we would ask anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the area on the night in question to get in touch."
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Lothian & Borders PoliceThe full article contains 170 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
