A rare Eagle Owl has been found dead after being fired on with a shotgun.

The female bird - the first to breed in Britain for hundreds of years - had been living with its mate on Ministry of Defence land in the Yorkshire Dales, although the pairs' exact location had remained a closely guarded secret.

The Owl made a TV appearance in November when its story featured in the BBC 2 documentary "Return of the Eagle Owl".

The bird's body was only found recently, although it is believed to have being shot before Christmas. The body contained an amount of large gauge shot of the type used to kill foxes; this is distinctly different from the smaller shot used to control other pests or for Grouse and Pheasant shooting.

An autopsy found that the Owls' stomach was empty; causing experts to suggest she may have starved to death after the wound left her unable to hunt for about a week.

Major Tony Crease, the conservation officer for the MoD's Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve at Catterick Garrison said; "The pair have been living here for nine years and they have produced 23 young chicks. I have ringed them all. I don't know how to describe the sense of loss. What is so sad is hearing the male calling out for her. It's just a tragedy."

The Eagle Owl is protected by law, and a Police investigation is now underway with officers trying to trace the ammunition.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060 247.