Fears for wildlife after sizzling weather
A number of residents have raised concerns over how lowering water levels are affecting wildlife.
Animals have been struggling in the recent hot weather, as weeks of wall-to-wall sunshine have left water courses across the region drying up.
The family of swans and cygnets living in the pond on the South Inch were seen earlier this week walking on the low water levels rather than swimming.
Concerns have since been raised for the welfare of the resident swans.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said they are monitoring the animals, but add there is not a simple solution to the problem.
They said: “As glorious as this summer has been so far, wildlife are starting to feel the pinch from weeks for warm weather and lack of rainfall.
“We are now in full drought conditions and some ponds such as the South Inch are starting to shrink.
“We are aware of the problems this is causing for the family of swans living there.
“It is not as simple as adding water to the pond as the chlorine in tap water would be harmful to birds in the long term, resulting in fewer insects and plants for them to eat.
“We are monitoring the water levels in the South Inch pond and other water courses with advice from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).”
The local authority spokesperson added they were hoping the rainfall early yesterday morning will have helped the water levels, and will look at alternative ways to get water into the pond.
The PA’s photographer Richard Wilkins was also able to snap the low levels on the River Tay over the weekend, with dry stones being seen on the waterbed for one of the first times in years under Smeaton’s Bridge.
PA photographer Richard Wilkins took this snap of the River Tay, with the dry waterbed under Smeaton’s Bridge showing for the first time in years