The dumping of hundreds of dead pheasants at the side of a County Derry road has prompted concerns for health and safety.
The gruesome discovery was made by a local man at Temple Road, outside Drumsurn, on Saturday.
It is understood up to 200 pheasants and a number of ducks were dumped sometime between Monday, January 8 and Saturday, January 13.
The birds appear to have been shot and are ‘tied and hung’.
A number of other dead animals, including sheep and a calf, have also been dumped in the same area.
The man who made the discovery said he believes the rotting animals could pose a ‘health and safety risk’.
Speaking to the County Derry Post, the man, who preferred not to be identified, said: “These pheasants and ducks appear to have come from a commercial shoot. I don’t know who is behind it or what the circumstances are but there are at least 200 birds dumped here in a pile on the embankment at the side of the road. More birds have been thrown through the trees at the side of the road.
“A number of dead sheep and a three or four month old calf have also been dumped on the roadside along with animal carcasses which have been there since December.
“I believe there is a health and safety risk here to local people and I have reported the matter to the council’s environmental health department.”
The man said those behind the dumping of the birds ‘have no respect’ for the environment.
“No proper, respectful person would do this. Whoever dumped these birds has no respect for the environment at all. This is a rural road, it’s a scenic area and it’s very popular with walkers. This dumping has just blighted the area.”
Sinn Féin councillor Sean McGlinchey also hit out at the individuals behind the dumping, branding them ‘irresponsible’.
“It’s absolutely disgusting and very irresponsible of anyone to do this,” he said.
“It’s despicable that anyone would do this. People should be trying to protect the countryside and its wildlife, not destroy it.
“In my opinion, it appears that those behind it have been involved in a shoot of some sort and for whatever reason have decided to dump the dead birds here at the side of the road. You’d think they would know better.”
TUV’s Boyd Douglas also condemned the incident, adding that it was ‘irresponsible behaviour’.
A spokesperson for Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council said: “Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council will investigate this complaint of illegal dumping and make the necessary arrangements to have carcasses removed. If any member of the public has any information with respect to this incident, they are asked to contact the Health & Built Environment section at the Limavady office on 028 7776 0302 in confidence.”
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