Parrots have their legs cut off by vandals
Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 15:54 
Two parrots who have had to be put down after they were found with their legs cut off at an amusement park (Pic: PA) A PAIR of parrots at an amusement park had to be put down after vandals cut off their legs.
Police were called to Wickstead Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, after head gardener Kevin Lenton found the Orange-Winged Amazon parrots lying bleeding on the floor of their cage yesterday morning.
The two-year-old parrots, who were nicknamed Sid and Nancy by staff, were donated to the park in April this year.
Police believe the offenders coaxed the birds to the aviary fence and cut off their legs through the mesh.
They are treating the incident as criminal damage and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information on the attack to contact them.
It is thought the incident took place between 7pm on Tuesday and 8am yesterday.
The parrots were worth around £1,000 each, and a £500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the incident.
John Roberts, managing director of Wicksteed Park, said: "This appears to be a horrible case of cruelty involving two of the much-cherished and popular birds at the park.
"The cages in our aviary are mink-proof and the way the birds' feet had been cut suggests that they were pulled through the cage.
"The vet who examined the birds said that the fact that they were still alive this morning would suggest that this was done in the early hours of today."
Park staff reported the incident to police and were viewing CCTV footage of the aviary and surrounding area.
Mr Roberts added: "This is an awful incident which has sickened everyone involved with the park and we are doing all we can to help police catch the people responsible."