Visitors to Roundhay Park have been left saddened and angry after 'evil' thugs destroyed a swans' nest and smashed the birds' eggs.
Walkers spotted two youths throwing stones at the nest on the lake at around 7.15am on Saturday. Volunteer group Friends of Roundhay Park has reported the nest belonging to swans Joy and Hope had been destroyed.
West Yorkshire Police's Wildlife and Rural Crime team attended the scene and found all the breeding pair's eggs had been smashed.
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Friends of Roundhay Park (FORP) posted: "We are absolutely devastated to report that Joy and Hope’s nest has been destroyed. If anyone has any information regarding the perpetrators of this appalling act please contact the police."
According to FORP, this is the latest in a series of trials and tribulations for Joy and Hope. The swans met in 2020 and bred but their nest was destroyed by a dog that bit Joy. Although Hope guarded the eggs while Joy was at the vet none of her eggs survived.
The following year was better as six of their seven cygnets survived. The six are a feature of Roundhay Park today. Last year, four cygnets survived although some were hit by avian flu.
One member of the FORP Facebook group said: "It’s so sad. I always look forward to seeing their cygnets. And after the last couple of years they’ve had and now this. It’s just evil whoever has done this."
Another said: "I absolutely cannot bear this. My little boy was over the moon last weekend when he saw their eggs.
"This is absolutely heartbreaking and disgusting, contemptible behaviour. I’m so very sorry for those poor swans."
And another said: "I’m in tears reading this. I walk passed this nest every single day hoping to catch a glimpse of the eggs. I wonder if the swans are OK and is it possible they might start again?"
West Yorkshire Police's Wildlife and Rural Crime team said: "This morning officers have attended at Roundhay Park following a report of youths throwing stones at a swans' nest. Sadly the eggs were all destroyed."
Anyone who has any information about the incident is asked to call West Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting crime number 13230207455. Information can be passed to police anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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