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10:06am Friday 12th June 2009 in
A “SICKENING” attack by hooded teenagers who stamped to death a baby deer has sparked outrage.
Police, politicians, and wildlife experts have united in condemnation after a member of the public reported seeing three youths stamping on the fawn in the grounds of Upton Country Park on Wednesday.
PC John Snellin, Dorset Police’s wildlife officer, said the senseless brutality of the attack had “beggared belief”.
“The deer was found curled up in the long grass like Bambi with a large boot print across its head. The carcass has been taken to a local vet. It doesn’t make pretty viewing.
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“I would dearly love to have these people in for interview to find out what was going through their minds. It beggars belief.
Nicky Hoar, the spokesperson for the Dorset Wildlife Trust, said staff had been “sickened” to hear of the “cruel act against a completely defenceless young creature”.
“Fortunately the vast majority of people are delighted when they have a close encounter with wildlife and I am sure they would join us in condemning this shocking behaviour,” said Ms Hoar.
New Forest deer expert, David Kenyon, a director with the British Deer Society, said the fawn would “almost certainly” have been a Roe deer.
“They are born at this time of year and the mother hides them in long grass until they are a strong enough to follow her at about 10 to 14 days old.
“It certainly wouldn’t have been abandoned.
“The mother would have returned two or three times a day to feed it,” said Mr Kenyon.
Clive Smith, the leisure services chief for Poole council, which owns the park, said staff would work with the police to ensure the perpetrators were caught.
Police are hunting three white males seen by the witness leaving the park and walking to Turlin Moor.
All three had short black hair and were wearing hooded tops and tracksuit trousers.
One was wearing grey trousers with distinctive, bright yellow stripes, made from high visibility material, said PC Snellin.
Anyone with information about the attack should contact Dorset Police on 01202 222222, or the free and anonymous Crime Stoppers service on 0800 555 111, where mobile phone tariffs may apply.
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Comments(17)
B.F.G
says...
10:45am Fri 12 Jun 09
Julie G
says...
10:57am Fri 12 Jun 09
alumchineboy2
says...
11:01am Fri 12 Jun 09
ben111
says...
11:13am Fri 12 Jun 09
2ndembo
says...
11:21am Fri 12 Jun 09
goneracing
says...
11:26am Fri 12 Jun 09
gibbsy
says...
12:37pm Fri 12 Jun 09
wheelbarrow
says...
1:46pm Fri 12 Jun 09
BIGTONE
says...
2:37pm Fri 12 Jun 09
KLH
says...
2:55pm Fri 12 Jun 09
KLH
says...
2:59pm Fri 12 Jun 09
ben111
says...
3:08pm Fri 12 Jun 09
wheelbarrow wrote:Could not agree more
These idiots should be put forward as the first of many in a countrywide sterilisation programme, preventing them from breeding and creating future generations. Bournemouth Echo should pursue this story until these fools are caught.
poolebabe
says...
3:35pm Fri 12 Jun 09
goneracing
says...
4:20pm Fri 12 Jun 09
Carol Anne
says...
9:18pm Fri 12 Jun 09
ruby12
says...
10:58pm Thu 18 Jun 09
B.F.G wrote:one of the boys that murdered this fawn lives at 91 egmont road turlin moor poole dorset.
What the hell is the world coming to? Just give me five minutes with those hoodrats and they'd never put a foot out of line again.
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ben111 says...
10:43am Fri 12 Jun 09