Queen Elizabeth is getting a lot of criticism from various animal rights groups following the death of a young owl in her countryside estate in Sandringham. The anger of the death of the owl began after photos of its carcass were shared on social media as part of a campaign against Fenn traps.

A Fenn trap is a kind of spring-loaded trap used to catch animals and often used by gamekeepers. The National Anti-Snaring Campaign (NASC) shared the images of the deal own on social media, which immediately sparked an outcry from animal lovers.

The animal rights group said that the use of the cruel trap at Queen Elizabeth’s estate is a “disgraceful practice” that needs to be stopped.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) confirmed the authenticity of the photos and said that it had also received reports of Fenn traps being used in the land between Sandringham and Anmer Hall – the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

While the use of Fenn traps is legal in the UK, some groups have argued against its continued use and how it could harm endangered or protected species. The particular owl that was killed was a protected specifies under Schedule 9 of the UK’s Wildlife and Countryside Act.