'I'm numb': Devastation as owl killed and rare birds worth £8,000 stolen
A falconry centre could be forced to close following a night-time raid in which eight valuable birds of prey were snatched - and another killed.
Thieves targeted the Owl and Falconry Centre, at Shipley, near Wolverhampton and made off with the birds estimated to be worth more than £8,000.
Volunteers at the attraction, which includes a pets corner, have been left devastated. Head-keeper Karl Law admits the centre may have to shut.
He was the first to arrive on site the morning after the raid to open up for volunteer students.
"It just so happened the students hadn't turned up that day because there had been a problem with their minibus, so we did not find out about the break-in until 10am," he said.
"I had decided to feed the farm animals we have on site. Normally when I head up that way all the birds start shouting because they know it is feeding time, but there were no shouts.
"That was when I turned around and saw one of the aviary doors was open. I drove further down the field and noticed some of them had gone."
Shocked by what he had seen and the thought a bird had been taken, Mr Law immediately ran to his office to phone police.
It was only later when he sent staff to check the remainder of the grounds he discovered the full extent of the crime.
In total eight birds had been taken including a Gyrfalcon, a Pure Saker falcon and a Tribred falcon. The three alone are estimated to be worth £7,000.
The thieves also made off with two barn owls and three Bantam chickens.
To add to the upset, a volunteer discovered the body of an owl, seemingly killed following a struggle.
Left at the site are empty enclosures with feathers strewn across the floors.
The total estimated damage at the site - located at the rear of Gardenlands Garden and Leisure off the Bridgnorth Road - is £8,200.
Mr Law had expected much of this would be covered by the centre's insurance, but he has since been told the centre may not be covered due to a mix-up with paperwork.
There will be a crunch meeting at the end of the month to decide on the centre's future.
Mr Law, added: "We are worried about closure now, no question. They are basically asking what happens next time this happens or something else goes wrong.
"We have got loads of work on at the minute, the diary is completely full, but now we have had to start cancelling some of the work because we cannot replace the birds."
The Owl and Falconry Centre opened its doors in 2012 and has a total of 70 birds of prey.
As well as running daily displays it offers handling courses and does visits off-site to show off its magnificent birds.
It is thought the thieves accessed the site via fields at the back as no images of the culprits have been captured on the front-facing cameras.
The nature of the raid makes Mr Law suspect it was planned and the birds were probably stolen to order.
Mr Law, added: "The whole thing has really left me feeling gutted. It has left me feeling numb. I don't know what I will do if this place is to shut down.
"We have been going well, we have been going the right way. We had been expanding. For Christmas we were going to get a Santa Claus and get some reindeer here. All that is at risk."
The centre has a total 36 volunteers and does a lot of work with disabled groups in the community - all of which could be at risk.
Mr Law, added: "It is not just me and the money. Among our volunteers we have got five youngsters with learning disabilities. There work is now in jeopardy. It is there place just as much as it is mine.
"We work with disabled youngsters and adults - we have them here and we go around various homes.
"That is the thing that worries me most. They are the ones who really look forward to coming here, and it is also my favourite part of the job."
Anyone with information is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101. Alternatively people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
