Cygnets ‘have fallen victim to chemicals’

NATURE ENTHUSIAST BELIEVES YOUNG FAMILY OF SWANS HAVE DIED

THERE are fears more baby swans could have died after a green chemical killed six of them last week.

The RSPCA said last week six dead cygnets had been recovered from the Grand Union Canal near to Abbey Park in Leicester.

One adult covered in a green chemical was seen near the dead birds and a second adult bird – also covered in the unidentified chemical – was rescued by the fire service nearby on the Willow Brook the same day.

The first adult has been monitored by the RSPCA and seems healthy, while the rescued swan is also doing well.

But dog walker Patricia Conlon has now contacted the Mercury to report her concerns that another 11

MYSTERY: A green swan is rescued and, right, a photo Patricia Conlon took of the cygnets cygnets have since disappeared from the area.

She said: “I walk in this park every day with my dog, and only a month previously had taken a photo of this mother swan with her gorgeous 11 cygnets.”

Patricia is convinced the chemical is responsible for their disappearance, saying: “Sadly the babies are no more, thanks to whoever is dumping this poisonous liquid in the water.

“Whoever is responsible for dumping this pollutant in the water has wiped out at least 17 innocent cygnets, left the parents distressed and damaged other wildlife.

“This particular swan family used the area between Abbey Park, down to the weir near to the space centre.” The RSPCA said they had no further information about more cygnets having died in the area.

A spokeswoman said: “The first swan, which was rescued, is doing really well and we monitored the second until all seemed well.

“The green substance washed away naturally so our officers decided to stop attempts to catch her as she is now getting on fine and the substance doesn’t appear to be toxic to either of the adults. We haven’t had any further reports.

“There were six cygnets that were found dead at the time. They looked like they had the substance on them but there haven’t been any others that we are aware of.”