Residents' shock as swan believed shot and cygnet trapped in culvert at Pleasley Vale

Residents have been left shocked after after discovering an adult swan dead on the island at the lake at Pleasley Vale Business Park.
By Dale Spridgeon
Published 16th Sep 2020, 07:00 BST
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Bill and Michelle Walker are regular walkers around the lake, and say they had enjoyed following the progress of a family of swans made up of two adults and five cygnets over the past few weeks.

However, the couple say one of the adults is now dead on the island in the lake, one cygnet has been trapped in a culvert, and two are missing. The remaining adult is still with two of its cygnets.

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Michelle said: “We walk around the area all the time and we have really enjoyed watching the swan family as they grew, mum and dad and their five young.

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Pleaseley Vale Business Park. Swans have been shot on the lake.Pleaseley Vale Business Park. Swans have been shot on the lake.
Pleaseley Vale Business Park. Swans have been shot on the lake.

"Now we have seen that there is only one adult remaining, with two of its young, and another was stuck in a culvert, two others are missing. We don’t know what has happened for them to be separated, it is upsetting.

"It looks like the adult may have been shot by a pellet gun, but I don’t know for sure. I feel absolutely sickened by it. It’s horrendous to think someone has done something. They are a beautiful and protected species.”

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Bill added: “It is possible someone could have done something to them, it is a remote area. The cygnets are not old enough to fly, or fend for themselves. I rang the RSPCA about one in the culvert that links to the River Meden. Other people at the business park have also reported them before.”

Pleaseley Vale Business Park. Swans have been shot on the lake.Pleaseley Vale Business Park. Swans have been shot on the lake.
Pleaseley Vale Business Park. Swans have been shot on the lake.
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An RSPCA spokseperson said: “We received a report of two cygnets which were trapped in a culvert near Pleasley Vale in Mansfield at the end of August.

“An officer attended and one of the cygnets was rescued and returned to its parents but sadly despite our best efforts the other one was still missing. Our officers are continuing to monitor this situation and will be visiting the site again shortly after receiving another report about a trapped swan on September 14.

“We are not aware of reports about a dead swan suspected to have been shot, if anyone has any information about this, or concerns about any other swans in the area, please contact the RSPCA – 0300 1234 999.”