Children have been sharing footage and photographs of themselves using catapults to kill and torture animals.
Youngsters, some of whom were of primary school age, circulated the videos around a UK-wide WhatsApp network.
Footage showed injured animals dying slowly after being shot with hand-held catapults.
Another clip revealed young people had been kicking and abusing animals after shooting them.
Shepperton’s Swan Sanctuary has also claimed around 20 birds in its care have sustained catapult injuries.
SWAN SANCTUARY
Children were even snapped pose holding the dead animals.
There were nearly 500 members of catapult groups on WhatsApp, Sky News has reported.
More than 350 photos and videos have been shared on animals killed or wounded by weapons.
The RSPCA described the material in the groups as "horrendous" and said it was an "emerging trend".
There has even been calls for a change to the law as catapults are not classed as an illegal weapon and can be bought and carried legally.
There has even been calls for a change to the law as catapults are not classed as an illegal weapon and can be bought and carried legally
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Pigs, deer, pigeons, foxes, squirrels, pheasants, rabbits, geese and ducks have all been targeted.
Shepperton’s Swan Sanctuary has also claimed around 20 birds in its care have sustained catapult injuries.
Volunteer Danni Rogers said the “devastating” wounds were as a result as “pure kill shots”.
Describing the "life-changing, death-causing" injuries, Rogers revealed he had seen "fractures to facial areas, eyes exploding and windpipes bursting".
In one video, two teenagers shot a fox, with one saying: “Okay boys... steel shot in the head.”
Pellets have been lodged inside some swans
SWAN SANCTUARY
A child in a separate clip added: “One up for the new catapult, big Canadian goose, dead as a dodo. Get up!”
The RSPCA’s lead wildlife officer Geoff Edmond said the catapult killings were an "emerging trend" and children involved were "deliberately and intentionally targeting" animals "for sport".
He added: “We're seeing more and more injured animals being reported to us that are being hit by catapults.”
Henry Smith, the vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, is urging MPs to change the legislation.
He added: "Until a few people are convicted of using catapults for inflicting great suffering on animals, and they face the consequences of that in law, then there won't be a deterrent to stop other people from engaging in this sick activity."
A WhatsApp spokesperson stressed the company responds to law enforcement requests based on applicable law and policy.
