A RED kite has been found dead with gunshot wounds in a new blow to efforts to establish a viable population of the birds across the North-East, it has been revealed.

The body of the bird was discovered in Chopwell Wood, west of Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, over the Easter weekend.

The area is in the heart of the core breeding area for the species, which was introduced in a major public project between 2004 and 2009.

Examination by a veterinary surgeon revealed that the bird had two pellet wounds from an air rifle or a shotgun.

The shooting is the latest setback to the local red kite population after three birds were found illegally poisoned last year.

The latest incident has been reported to Northumbria Police and is the second case within weeks of a kite being shot in the region.

Police in North Yorkshire are investigating an incident at Low Marishes, near Malton, where a red kite was found still alive after being blasted by a shotgun.

It was taken into care and recently released back into the wild.

North Yorkshire’s wildlife crime officer, PC Jez Walmsley said: “We should be appalled that someone has chosen to try to kill such a magnificent bird."

The killing of the Chopwell bird has been condemned by the Friends of Red Kites (Fork) which monitors the local population.

Allan Withrington, Fork kite welfare officer, said: “That anyone could even think about shooting these beautiful, graceful birds is beyond my comprehension.

“We are saddened by yet another wildlife crime and look forward to hearing the results of the police investigation."

Red Kites are fully protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) which provides penalties of six months imprisonment or fines up to £5,000.

Fork is to explore the possibility of establishing a new, multi-agency initiative, as has been done in Northern Ireland, called Operation Raptor aimed at targeting those who continue to kill birds of prey.

The idea is to identify raptor persecution ‘hot spots’ and widely distribute a campaign poster to encourage the public to report suspicious incidents and to get the message across that offenders will be prosecuted. In addition to Fork, the partnership could include regional police forces, the RSPB, Natural England and the Environment Agency.