A helpless duck killed in a suspected catapult attack was found lying dead next to her nine “stone cold” eggs.

The hen suffered horrendous injuries while guarding her unhatched ducklings near Chart Gunpowder Mill in Faversham.

GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW

Graphic images show the poor bird’s beak has been shattered and a gaping wound in its body believed to have been caused by marbles fired from the weapon.

And there are fears there could be further incidents as police investigate the brutal attack.

A horrified wildlife rescue team made the grizzly discovery on Sunday afternoon, where the duck’s body was found lying next to nine eggs splashed with blood.

Serena Henderson from Columbines Wildlife Care in Teynham says the defenceless mallard was shot multiple times and had suffered a broken wing and ribs.

“She has a very distinctive marble-shaped catapult injury on her beak so they tried for a headshot,” she said.

“We see this all the time so we know what it looks like.

“We had to go into the water to retrieve her.

“She had a very nice position for a nest and you would not be able to get to her without walking through the stream so they shot her from the bank.”

It is believed the duck was dead for a couple of hours before she was discovered shortly after 5.30pm on Sunday.

But there were also fears the unhatched ducklings would not make it either.

“Sadly, survival appears to be very low as the eggs were stone cold,” Mrs Henderson added.

“They were in an incubator as soon as possible.

“They all have development in them and a couple of them were set to hatch in a couple of days.”

But there was a glimmer of hope yesterday afternoon after the eggs warmed through in the wildlife care team’s incubator.

“A couple are showing active signs of life so we are hopeful her hard work will not have been in vain,” Mrs Henderson said.

She says there are other nesting birds in the area and it is only a stone-s throw from Stonebridge Pond.

“There are lakes, estuaries and water throughout the town,” she said.

“I would not be surprised to see repeat incidents in the area.

“It seems to be on the increase, with catapults in particular.”

Earlier this week, there were calls for a heightened police presence in a town amid a worrying trend of kids damaging property and animals with catapults before posting it online.

Residents in Paddock Wood believe the rise in incidents is connected to a TikTok trend where young people film themselves firing ball bearings at animals and post it online.

Others say children were able to easily buy slingshots on the web without restrictions and at little cost.

It comes after officers seized two catapults and 62 ball bearings from two boys of secondary school age on April 19, following reports they were using them to target wildlife.

A police spokesperson confirmed the force was contacted on Monday about a nesting duck found dead near Noble Court, Faversham.

“The animal was believed to have been injured by somebody who had used a catapult,” they said.

“Officers from the Rural Task Force have spoken to the caller and are carrying out further enquiries into the incident.”

Anyone with further information can call police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 29-0220.