Vatican hires hawk to protect pope's doves

A intrepid hawk has been taken on by the Vatican to protect the pope's doves after two were killed in front of horrified crowds by a crow and seagull, according to a Catholic weekly.

The eagle-eyed bird of prey named "Sylvia", who was specially trained for the task in northern Italy, has been taken on by the Swiss Guards according to a report in Credere, which will be published Thursday.

It is hoped the Harris Hawk, with a wingspan of 120 centimetres (47 inches), will scare off predators looking to make a quick meal of a holy dove.

The doves are traditionally released from the Vatican a few times a year as signs of peace, but when two children let fly the white-feathered birds from the window above St Peter's Square on January 26 this year, they immediately came under attack.
The doves did not survive the brutal mid-air collision.