A pigeon is recovering after apparently being shot with a homemade blow dart.

Officers of the police’s wildlife crime unit said the bird had been found with the dart embedded in its wing.

The bird was found and recovered in the Pulrose area on Sunday, November 3.

A police statement said: ’Thankfully the pigeon is recovering well. It is not only an offence to intentionally kill or injure a bird without lawful authority but possession of a blow pipe in a public place is also an offence.

’As you can see from the attached picture who ever has injured the bird has clearly no regard for the welfare of the animal.’

A post on Manx Wildlife Trust’s Facebook page said that while the dart may look like a roosting spike, used to prevent bird roosting on buildings, it was ’assuming they [the police] know more than we can determine from the photograph’.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the police’s wildlife crime unit on 631212.