Swans rescued from oil leak
AMAJOR operation has been launched to rescue swans and cygnets after an oil leak in the canal at Clayton-le-Moors.
The swans, along with other birds in the Leeds and Liverpool canal at Whalley Road, were coated in the black substance with some covered up to their heads.
The RSPCA, Environment Agency and Canal River Trust were contacted to investigate.
Although the incident happened on Sunday (October 4), the diesel was reported as still in the water on Monday by one Facebook user who posted: “Just seen 2 of the 4 swans. 7.45 am 5/10. Totally covered in oil. The adult is making awful noises. Clearly distressed.”
The RSCPA has since recovered the swans and a rescue operation was set to take place on Tuesday to rescue the rest of the birds.
RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Carl Larsson said: “We are aware of this very serious oil spill in the canal in the Clayton-le-Moors, Hyndburn area.
“The RSPCA officer who was first on the scene was able to rescue two swans initially and these have been rushed to Stapeley Grange, our specialist wildlife centre in Nantwich, Cheshire, for treatment to clean off the oil.
“A major RSPCA rescue operation is being put in place to save the other swans, geese, ducks and other wildlife which have become covered with oil.
“It will be a complex rescue, deploying RSPCA water rescue specialists and other officers experienced in catching oiled wildlife, and will require special equipment including boats and sleds.
“The rescue operation will take place on Tuesday morning (6 October).”
A Canal and River Trust spokesperson said: “Over the weekend we were alerted to reports of a potential pollution incident on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Clayton Le Moors.
“Our team has investigated and we can’t find the source of any pollution just a small amount of oil in the water which appears to have come from a boater.
“Unfortunately two Swans and Cygnets were covered in the oil and the RSPCA have removed the birds from the canal.
“We will continue to monitor the situation but the oil should disperse naturally.”