The Scottish SPCA has been urged to remove a family of swans from a pond in Edinburgh after a cygnet was found dead.
The family, which consists of two adults and six cygnets, was moved to Blackford Pond in late September after hot summer weather dried up ponds at the Western Harbour.
Now, concerned residents are calling on the animal charity to take action, amid concerns that the swans are disappearing from the area.
Damaris Greer, who lives near the pond, said the situation was ‘heartbreaking’.
She told The Herald: “Tragically, almost all of the cygnets have since been lost and only one now remains. I visit the pond regularly with my granddaughter and had to leave because she was so upset at the losses.
“Last year, a swan family disappeared under suspicious and distressing circumstances - one swan was later found decapitated. That trauma, combined with this year’s devastating losses, has left the local community both heartbroken and frustrated.”
Greer said that a ‘reputable swan charity’ had offered to relocate the swans to a more suitable location.
However, the organisation requires approval from the SSPCA to legally remove the creatures.
“Some local committee members and rangers visited the pond last week,” Greer added. “They cleared the island, built a nest, and left food in hopes of encouraging the swans to seek safety there. But this is a temporary solution at best.”
In a statement, a SSPCA spokesperson said they understood that the situation had been upsetting for the local community.
The spokesperson said: “As an animal welfare charity, the Scottish SPCA will only relocate wildlife when absolutely necessary. In this case, the swan family at Western Harbour had become trapped in a fenced, dried-up pond with no access to water, so relocation was the only viable option to protect their welfare.
"Blackford Pond was one of very few suitable release sites available in Edinburgh. Since concerns were raised, our inspectors have attended to review the situation. The remaining swans are now extremely wary, which has made further attempts at relocation difficult without risking additional stress or injury.
According to the SSPCA, the area’s ranger has reported that one cygnet has been found dead on the island within the pond, which may have been a result of natural causes or ‘predation’.
“There is no confirmed evidence of a wider issue,” the spokesperson added. “The adult female swan has since flown off. Based on the timeline shared by the ranger team, it is likely the other cygnets were old enough to fledge and may also have flown.
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"We will continue to liaise with the ranger team and monitor the situation. Further relocation attempts would only be considered if there were a clear welfare risk to the remaining swans, as repeated handling can cause significant distress and suitable alternative sites are limited.
"We value the community’s concern for local wildlife and will keep working with the ranger service and partners to ensure the swans’ welfare remains our priority."
Greer said that the swans 'deserve better’, adding: “We strongly feel that the SSPCA placed this vulnerable swan family in an environment that was not adequately assessed for safety - and have since failed to take the necessary action to protect them.
“We are calling for urgent intervention, transparency, and accountability.”
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