"Cruel and unnecessary": Outrage after mystery woman 'brings pigeons PAINTED in bright colours to city centre park in satchel'
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A woman has sparked outrage after allegedly bringing brightly painted pigeons to a city centre park.
The mystery female was spotted with the birds - apparently painted in a range of colours including pink, green and blue - at Bristol's Castle Park.
Eyewitnesses claimed she brought the pigeons to the public park in a satchel - and had been at the spot for a while, the Bristol Post reports.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( RSPCA ) said it was “cruel and unnecessary”.
The animal charity told the newspaper it was "concerned by the possibility that someone may have intentionally painted the pigeons' feathers".
(Image: Bristol Post)
This could impair the birds' ability to fly and leave them more vulnerable to predators, it said.
Onlookers reported the sighting to the RSPCA last week. The charity is now working to track down the woman, who has not been located.
An RSPCA spokesman said: “We are aware that a person was seen with pigeons painted in bright colours, in Castle Park.
(Image: Bristol Post)
"We sent an inspector out to find out more but the person could not be found. We are concerned by the possibility that someone may have intentionally painted the pigeons' feathers.
“This is very worrying as it could cause health problems, impair their ability to fly and make them more vulnerable to predators."