Sick black swan lucky to be alive

A NATIVE black swan is lucky to be alive after suffering botulism, an illness caused by toxins similar to Botox.

The swan, nicknamed Lelu by locals, was spotted by a resident along a Bundall canal, unable to get up on Sunday after suffering paralysis.

The resident contacted Wild Bird Rescue Gold Coast, run by Rowley Goonan who recognised the symptoms.

The young mother of two cygnets was taken to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital for treatment.

Mr Goonan said botulism was naturally occurring, usually in stagnant water after warm weather. It did not affect humans.

“The legs go first, the wings second and then the neck,” Mr Goonan said of the symptoms. “It’s the basis of Botox.” He said while Botox was injected as a cosmetic treatment, botulism was deadly for birds.

“So she’s very lucky that the original callers noticed her lying on the beach with her family and that she couldn’t get up,” he said.

“She’s very underweight ... and she suddenly cops this. She would have been dead within 48 hours, no doubt.”

Dr Pyne said Lelu could stay for up to two weeks in hospital before being released to rejoin her mate and cygnets.