Overview
- Authorities opened an investigation after a stork was found dead in its nest in the village of Braak in the Stormarn district.
- An eyewitness from the volunteer fire brigade reported hearing a gunshot near the Festwiese moments before the bird collapsed.
- Firefighters used a ladder truck to recover the body from a privately installed nesting platform, and veterinary officials are examining it to determine the cause of death.
- Police say a gunshot is suspected, and an intentional killing of a protected species could bring fines up to €50,000 or prison terms of up to five years.
- Braak’s mayor said the village is stunned because a stork pair had only recently settled there, reflecting a broader return of white storks to northern German towns.