Deer head found buried in field

The deer photographed on its release (Pic: Andrew Forsyth)

The decapitated head of an injured deer which had been nursed back to health by RSPCA vets has been found buried in a Norfolk field.

RSPCA staff were checking on the roe deer's progress when a tracking device led them to the severed head near the charity's East Winch Wildlife Centre.

The female deer had been treated at the centre for a fractured leg and released on to nearby private land in October.

Identification tags had been removed from its ears. Its body was not found.

The RSPCA said it was shocked by the discovery two miles from the centre and appealed for help from the public to find the person responsible.

Staff 'saddened'

It is thought the deer may have been shot.

Alison Charles, East Winch Wildlife Centre manager, said: "We spent a long time nursing this deer back to health, to give her the best chance at life.

"All the staff at the centre are very saddened."

The deer was taken to the wildlife centre on 13 July after being found in Holt, north Norfolk.

The RSPCA said human contact had been kept to a minimum during its recuperation to enable it to remain as wild as possible.

The deer was then released on 17 October as part of a tracking project being run at the centre.