Swan on Worcester to Birmingham canal has to be put down

Volunteers at Wychbold Swan Rescue said it was the kindest thing to do as the swan was so severely injured.

Passing dog walker Emily Willetts alerted her husband Paul to the rescue and he got onboard an inflatable dinghy to gently usher the bird towards Bilford Bottom Lock No 7 in Perdiswell.

Waiting at the side of the canal was John Stewart from Wychbold Swan Rescue and Marilyn McCarthy from Swan Food Project.

Following yesterday morning's rescue (Tuesday), the bird was taken back to the rescue centre.

Mr Willetts said he believed the swan had been shot in the head as the animal had blood coming from its head.

However, a spokesperson for Wychold Swan Rescue said they were unsure how the bird became injured.

They said: "We can’t say for sure if it had been shot or not.

INJURED: The swan was herded into Bilford Bottom Lock No7 in Perdiswell (Image: Paul Willetts)

"But unfortunately, its injuries were too severe and the kindest thing to do was euthanise it.

"We have had incidents in that area in the past of birds that have been shot but we cannot confirm that to be the case today."

Mr Willetts said the swan was in a very bad way and not interested in food while the tried to tempt it toward the lock.

He said: "It looked as though he had been shot with an air rifle to the back of the head and to its wing and John was unable to say if he would make it. 

"We were really saddened to hear that this isn’t the first time that this has happened on this stretch of canal with another swan having been shot in the beak only last year."

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In January, a defenceless swan was shot in its side and beak and left severely injured near the canal in Bilford Road.

Non-profit organisation Wychbold Swan Rescue saved the animal which had severe injuries after it was shot twice by a BB gun.

The rescue, based at Walkmills Farm, covers the Worcestershire and Warwickshire areas.