Environment

East London: Dead Swan found in Park, in 'disgusting' lake

by Beaulieu | August 19, 2009 at 11:26 am

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A dead swan has been found in Victoria Park, East London, not far from the Olympic site.

This doesn't surprise me. You only have to walk round East London and look at the water round there and it looks green and murky. Once in a while, I have seen dredgers, in Tower Hamlets, trying to clear it up, although I have only seen them at the river by the Greenway.

I see that the Swan was being taken away by 'Park Rangers', perhaps an independent investigation should also be done.

" A SWAN has been found dead floating on the lake at East London’s Victoria Park today (Wednesday).

A full investigation is now under way after the adult bird was taken away by park rangers.

Experts from the Swan Sanctuary are examining another adult bird and cygnet at the lake which has been covered with green weed. The bird was spotted by June Beckett walking her dog this-morning who has reported sightings of dead swans at the lake in previous years.

She told the East London Advertiser: “There’s a problem with oxygenation in the lake.

I reported it and the Swan Sanctuary asked me to keep an eye on the lake.

“But I was shocked when I found this beautiful swan dead in the water.”

Tower Hamlets council said today the water quality “has been found to be a good.”

How long do swans normally live? According to the Swan Sanctuary:

"In the wild, with all the hazards they have to live with (vandals, pollution, dogs, mink, overhead cables, bridges, pylons, lead poisoning, fishing-tackle injuries etc), an average lifespan would be 12 years. In a protected environment this figure can reach 30 years."