A RARE bird of prey is recovering after being found suffering from gunshot wounds.

The red kite, a large, adult female, was found on farmland at Low Marishes, north of Malton. It had been blasted with a shotgun, but was still alive.

Jean Thorpe, a local conservationist who rescues and rehabilitates injured wildlife, said: "The bird was gathered up by the tenant farmer on Good Friday evening and I called straight away to collect it.

“She had slight wounds to both wings and a small amount of blood in her mouth."

Red kites are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act which makes it an offence “to take, injure or kill a red kite or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young.”

Red kites have come back from near extinction in the UK in the last 50 years, from a population of about 20 pairs in Wales. They were extinct in England and Scotland. There are now estimated to be about 1,800 breeding pairs in Britain, which is about seven per cent of the world population.

Ms Thorpe is now looking after the injured bird. “She is faring well and hopefully will be able to be released soon," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to phone Ms Thorpe on 01653 695124 or North Yorkshire Police on 101.