Black swan shot with arrow
A black swan has been shot in the neck with an arrow in act animal advocates describe as ‘‘disgusting’’.
The SPCA and the South Island Wildlife Hospital combined to capture the swan on a side stream of the Avon River in Christchurch. Both organisations had been receiving calls about the bird 10 days before it could be found and captured.
The capture took about three hours, with help from a passing kayaker and information from local whitebaiters, and required eight people. The SPCA had attempted to catch the bird at least three times before.
South Island Wildlife Hospital volunteer co-ordinator Donna Clarkson said it was disgusting to see someone had shot an arrow through the swan’s neck, and worrying it was done in a built-up area.
Clarkson said she could not comprehend why someone would shoot a defenseless animal. It was not sport because it was a sitting swan.
‘‘What I think about the person who done it you can’t say in public.
‘‘Thankfully we don’t see it too often, but it’s just extremely distressing when we do, for the bird and everyone involved.’’
South Island Animal Hospital volunteer vet Pauline Howard said the wound was ‘‘quite smelly and infected’’ when she treated the bird, which is being medicated with painkillers and antibiotics.
It will require minor surgery later this week, when the wound settles, and should make a full recovery.
Howard said the bird was very lucky that the arrow, believed to be from a crossbow, missed the bone and everything vital.
SPCA Canterbury spokeswoman Raina Roberts said leaving the bird in that condition was an offence under the Animal Welfare Act.
‘‘We certainly wouldn’t want this to happen to any animal, that they are left in this state.’’
She said something like this happened every year.
Two swans were shot with a .22 rifle at Swan Lake Gardens in January this year. They both survived the incident.
‘‘Generally with this sort of thing, it’s done very quietly and no-one comes forward.’’
Roberts said that anyone with information about the incident should contact the SPCA or police.
"What I think about the person who done it you can't say in public.'' South Island Wildlife Hospital volunteer co-ordinator Donna Clarkson