Angry mob attacks men after killing of endangered bird in Germany

An angry crowd attacked two men suspected ofkilling a capercaillie in southern Germany.The two suspects, aged 20 and 22, beat the increasingly rare bird todeath with a bottle while making their way home from a party, policein Titisee-Neustadt in the Black Forest region said on Sunday.  Both said that the huge black woodland grouse had threatened them andthey merely defended themselves. After the incident on Saturday afternoon, witnesses intervened anddetained the two men. The angry crowd beat the suspected bird killersand poured beer over them.Police are investigating several individuals involved on suspicion ofcausing bodily harm and other crimes.The capercaillie is at risk of extinction in Germany and elsewhere inEurope. Encounters with humans are not uncommon in hilly regionswhere the birds live and the males are known to be very territorial.A special action plan is currently in place in Germany's Black Forestto stabilize the species' population.