Swan couple reunited after fears of shooting

A swan who flew into Britain alone six weeks ago after losing its mate during the 2,500-mile journey has finally been reunited with its partner.

Wildlife experts at Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust feared the worst when 26-year-old Bewick’s swan Croupier arrived without Dealer. The pair have been together for 19 years, hatching 29 cygnets, and are part of a lineage of swans which can be traced back decades.

It was feared Dealer may have been shot or poisoned on its journey back from Russia, but yesterday the Trust in Gloucestershire announced that the female had arrived after going missing for six weeks.