Bird flu fears after 25 swans mysteriously found floating dead in London canal

Volunteers started uncovering dormant birds on a a London canal 2 weeks agone with avian flu being suspected arsenic a imaginable crushed wherefore the 25 swans were recovered dead

Environmental activists are reeling from the tragic and untimely demise of 25 swans at the Grand Union Canal successful West London - sparking fears of an outbreak of bird flu.

The grim script archetypal came to airy a fortnight agone erstwhile Samaritans commenced stumbling upon respective dormant swans by the Bankside agelong of the canal successful Southall. As days unfolded, the decease toll alarmingly surged to a staggering 25, with much casualties being uncovered further on the waterway successful Northolt.

In summation to the swans, 15 geese, 3 ducks, 2 coots, and a azygous moorhen were recovered dormant successful what remains a baffling incident. Volunteers from Swan Support person dispatched the perished birds for adept investigation to spot if they have avian flu, though they expect it could an reply could elude them for weeks earlier a crushed is learned. While avian influenza is nether consideration, Swan Support hasn't dismissed the likelihood of toxic substances oregon contamination being culpable factors.

Wendy Hermon, the Operational Manager astatine Swan Support, said: "Until we person answers it's truly frustrating. We can't instrumentality immoderate backmost to our investigating centre arsenic it could beryllium contagious. At the infinitesimal we can't bash it." She went connected to express: "We're devastated. I've been moving present for 30 years, and adjacent present it's inactive truly pugnacious seeing the dormant birds. It affects america truthful much, it doesn't substance however galore times it happens.," reports MyLondon.

In an particularly sombre revelation, she disclosed: "It's peculiarly hard erstwhile we find them with a ringing arsenic it means we've helped them before. We rescued 1 which had a sportfishing hook stuck successful its rima 4 weeks ago, but precocious recovered it was among the swans which died."

The section radical Friends of Grand Union Canal person teamed up with Swan Support to unravel the mystery, appealing for nationalist help: "We are grateful to radical who person alerted america astir the galore dormant ample birds successful the canal betwixt Alperton and Hayes. We truly request the origin to beryllium identified. It could mean determination is simply a contamination contented that needs to beryllium addressed urgently."