Photo: IC

A French rooster named Marcel has amassed over 74,000 signatures on a petition protesting against his early demise by the gun of a neighbor fed up with his crowing.

The petition demanding "Justice for Marcel" was created by Sebastien Verney, the cockerel's owner and resident of Vinzieux, a village of 450 people in southern France left rattled by the killing in May this year.

"We have been profoundly shocked by this tragedy," Verney told AFP.

Verney's neighbor has admitted to shooting the bird.

The rooster serves as the unofficial symbol of France and the emblem of its rugby and football teams.

The neighbor has been charged with animal cruelty and unlawful use of a weapon among other offences and is due to go on trial in December.

An online petition for Marcel, with the subheading "Let us sing" had gathered more than 74,500 signatures by Monday.