A swan rescue charity said it was "horrified" after saving a swan caught in fishing line only to discover it had also been shot four times.
Scarborough District Council employees called out volunteers from the Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital after seeing the swan in Whitby harbour.
About 20m of discarded crab fishing line was wrapped around its body.
The swan was taken to the swan hospital in York where vets found four airgun pellets in its head and neck.
'Terrible act'
The charity's co-founder, Dan Sidley, said: "We were horrified to learn of the extent of the swan's injuries. Why anybody would want to harm such a beautiful bird is beyond our comprehension.
"Harming or disturbing a swan is illegal, and we hope a prosecution is brought before the person who carried out this terrible act".
Mr Sidley said the male swan was recovering after an emergency operation and he hoped it could be released back into the wild in the near future.
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