AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after “scandalous” footage emerged of dead game birds being dumped into a natural cavern on a mid Wales shooting estate.

The footage, captured by investigators from animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), shows dozens of dead game birds being dumped into a natural cavern on the Dyfi Falls shooting estate, near Machynlleth.

LACS, which campaigns to end commercial game shooting, reported the incident to Dyfed Powys Police and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) “amid strong concerns that the dead pheasants and partridges will contaminate water flowing into the nearby River Llyfnant and potentially pose a risk to human life”.

NRW confirmed they are investigating the reported incident. Police said they are not investigating the incident as “there is nothing to suggest any criminality”.

Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns at the LACS, said: “The film shows bird after bird being casually tossed into the cavern, next to one of Wales’ most sensitive and protected pieces of land because of its range, quality and variety of habitats, species and geological features.

“This scandalous incident shows a blatant disregard by the shooting industry for this environment.

“More than 61 million non-native pheasants and partridges are released into the British countryside every year only for them to be cruelly blasted out of the sky. That these birds are just being dumped shows there is no other reason for them to be shot other than for so-called ‘sport’.”

Chris added: “The Dyfi Falls Shoot, run by Cambrian Birds, will have serious questions to answer about the potential pollution to this important site, not to mention the high levels of cruelty involved in the wholesale killing of these birds.”

NRW have launched an investigation into footage of “bird after bird” being dumped into a natural cavern on the Dyfi Falls shoot estate
NRW have launched an investigation into footage of “bird after bird” being dumped into a natural cavern on the Dyfi Falls shoot estate (LACS)

The cavern is located next to the Pencreigiau’r Llan Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the Nant Y Gog stream which flows into the river Llyfnant.

Ann Weedy, NRW’s operations manager for Mid Wales, said: “We are aware of the reported incident and our investigation into the matter is ongoing. We cannot comment further at this stage.”

The Dyfi Falls shoot, which borders three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), has been highly controversial since opening. In October 2020, not long after opening, around 30 local people held a protest against the shoot and the “ecological and cultural vandalism”.

This is also not the first time the Dyfi Falls estate has been the subject of a NRW investigation. In the same month, NRW and Powys County Council launched an investigation into whether works had been undertaken in the SSSI without permission.

The public can report suspected wildlife crime linked to cruel sports to the League’s Animal Crimewatch service by phone on 0300 444 1234 or online at https://www.league.org.uk/what-you-can-do/report-animal-crime/animal-crimewatch/

Cambrian Birds, managers of the Dyfi Falls shoot, have been contacted for comment.