Home / Environment / Swans Rescued from Oil Spill Return Home
Swans Rescued from Oil Spill Return Home
26 Mar
Summary
- Two swans recovered in January from an oil-contaminated pond.
- The birds were rehabilitated for two months by a wildlife sanctuary.
- Swans have returned home and are showing signs of nesting.
Two swans have been successfully returned to their Nottinghamshire pond after a challenging rescue and rehabilitation effort. The birds were retrieved in January from a pond near the River Trent in Radcliffe-on-Trent, found heavily coated in oil. Approximately 10 litres of oil had spilled into the water from a container, severely impacting the swans.
Volunteers, including local resident Karen Twine and 'swan man' Simon Withers, were instrumental in locating the distressed birds. After being carefully captured, they were transported to Linjoy Wildlife Sanctuary and Rescue. The sanctuary staff worked diligently for two months to clean the oil from their feathers and ensure they were free of toxins.
During their convalescence, the swans were kept together but initially quarantined due to avian flu concerns. After receiving a clean bill of health, they were released back into their natural habitat. Community members are delighted by their return, with hopes that the pair will soon breed and that cygnets will be observed.
