A distressed swan had to be rescued after being injured by a triple fishing hook which attached her beak to her wing.
Animal rescue officers saved the female bird after she was spotted by a member of the public near Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire, on December 3.
The swan had also swallowed fishing wire and had to be taken to the vets where her face was stitched up before being released back into the wild.
Animal Rescue Officer Sheena MacTaggart from the SSPCA said: "When I arrived the poor swan was swimming in circles.
"She was still on the loch so I worked with the kind members of public who alerted us and together we managed to get her onto dry land.
"I took her to the vet where the hooks were removed, only to discover there was also fishing wire down her throat.
"She was then moved to a local wildlife hospital where her face was stitched up and she received lots of TLC. A week later she was released back into the wild.
"We urge the public to be more careful with their fishing hooks and line when disposing of them as we deal with so many incidents which are very similar on a weekly basis.
"The hooks can get stuck to their limbs, face, mouth and if swallowed, it can cause internal damage.
"This could so easily be avoided by clearing away all equipment."
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