Police are investigating after the bodies of six beheaded mute swans were discovered.
The birds were found in Restronguet Creek in the village of Devoran in Cornwall.
A member of the public spotted the bodies of two mute swans on mudflats opposite Greenbank Road.
They alerted Pc Barry Nicholas, of Devon and Cornwall Police, who investigated and found the birds had been beheaded.
A search around the area led to the discovery of a further four mute swan carcasses in various states of decomposition.
Pc Paul Freestone, wildlife crime officer for Cornwall, said: "At this time we have no way of knowing how these swans died but the fact that they have had their heads removed leads us to believe that they were killed illegally."
Mr Nicholas added: "Killing a mute swan would constitute an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and I would encourage anyone who has any information regarding the deaths of these birds to contact the wildlife crimes team."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police.
