Shocking photos show a male swan millimetres from death after a fishing hook became deeply embedded in its neck. The injured bird was “barely breathing” when it was found on a lake at a stately home with the barbed hook dangling from inside its body.
The RSPCA said it rescued the swan from Capesthorne Hall, in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on June 13. It was believed the swan might have been struggling with the injury for three weeks.
When vets examined the bird, they found it was close to asphyxiation as the piercing had caused a ring of swelling that had nearly blocked its windpipe. Due to the injuries and avian flu outbreak guidelines, the team had to drive the swan 70 miles to The Veterinary Health Centre Ltd in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. The hook and line were extracted from the bird following a successful operation and it was then reunited with the mate and two cygnets that it lives with.
RSPCA animal rescue officer Sonia Hulme, who took part in the rescue, said: “The ring of swelling you can see on the X-ray was caused by his body trying to expel the hook. If he hadn’t been caught, this would have got worse as it was just millimetres away from blocking his airway. Time is of the essence when adult swans have got cygnets, so it was wonderful to be able to reunite him with his family, safe and well, later that evening.”
It's thought fishing bailiffs had been trying to catch the swan for about three weeks before it was finally cornered by Sonia on June 13. When she first examined it, she saw the hook and noticed harsh breathing, before rushing the swan to a vet for an operation to extract it.
Sonia said: “The skin where the hook had pierced the swan’s neck had started to heal over, so we think this poor bird had been struggling like this for several weeks. He sounded really wheezy and was struggling to breath. I’m so grateful to the team at The Veterinary Health Centre Ltd for admitting him and operating so quickly.”
Sonia said while the injury happily didn't result in the loss of the bird’s life, anglers should be careful not to leave their gear lying around.
She added: “Although most anglers are responsible and do clean up after themselves, fishing litter is still a major problem and it can be so damaging to wildlife. Carelessly discarded fishing line, hooks and netting can cause terrible injuries, as this incident illustrates, and water birds are particularly vulnerable.
“We strongly urge those who enjoy fishing to be extra cautious to make sure nothing is left behind. It only takes one piece of snagged line to get caught up in a tree or dropped near the water to cause potential catastrophe for wildlife.”
