Hundreds of birds have been found dead on the streets after a New Year's Eve fireworks display in Rome, Italy,
While the cause of the creatures' deaths is not confirmed, the International Organisation for the Protection of Animals (OIPA) has blamed the fireworks.
Taking to Twitter to share a snap of the birds - mostly roosting starlings - lying lifeless on the floor at the city's Via Cavour, near Roma Termini train station, the charity pushed for people to "urge a ban" on fireworks altogether.
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"The terrible consequence of fireworks," they wrote. "Dead birds. Urge a ban".
A video of the dead birds littering the street is also doing the rounds.
You can watch it below, but be warned that it's upsetting:
Loredana Diglio, a spokesperson from the organisation, told the Associated Press: "It can be that they died from fear.
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"They can fly up together and knock against each other or hit windows or electric power lines. Let's not forget they can also die of heart attacks."
The display took place despite a ban on fireworks between 31st December 2020 and 6th January 2021, which was put in place by the city's mayor, Virginia Raggi.
In response to the birds' deaths, Italy's OIPA has pushed for a ban on selling fireworks and firecrackers for personal use, due to the threat they cause to animals.
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Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has previously said there is "little evidence to suggest that fireworks harm wild birds or affect their conservation status."
However, their website adds: "To minimise any adverse impact of fireworks on birds, we urge organisers of firework displays to avoid launching the rockets near to sensitive wildlife areas, such as nature reserves, and nesting and roosting sites for wild birds."
The Associated Press report that the display in Rome took place in a green neighbourhood where the birds typically roosted.
Featured Image Credit: OIPA
