Swan deaths on Grand Union Canal being investigated

THERE have been many swan deaths on a stretch of the Grand Union Canal in west London that are under investigation.

Swan Support is concerned that they have been called out to 25 swans that have died, Roger Fox reports.

40 dead birds

Altogether the rescue charity has be called out to recover more than 40 dead birds, mainly swans and geese, during the past three weeks from the canal.

Swan Support believes it is a possible pollution incident that may have caused the deaths, but Canal & River Trust suggests it was more likely to have been due to avian flu.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is aware of the deaths and is investigating the cause.

Did not have the disease

Wendy Hermon, operational manager of Swan Support stated:

"In the last three and a half weeks we've picked up 25 swans, 15 geese, three ducks, two coots and a moorhen, and apparently there was a dead heron, so it's quite sad."

She added that she did not believe the birds had died from avian flu as she had seen post-mortem examination results on some of the first birds found dead, which found they did not have the disease, her opinion being it is some sort of toxin in the water.