Glasgow rallies round to rehome Dennistoun swans attacked by parents

Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre were called in over the weekend after worried residents raised the alarm that two young swans were being regularly attacked by their parents in the Dennistoun park.

One of the animals was rehomed at Hogganfield Loch over the weekend but the other will require a short stay in Hessilhead’s small hospital due to injuries and trauma it received.

The Glasgow Times understands that there have been reports of the adult swans holding their heads under the water in order to drown them. They have also been chased from the water and attacked.

READ MORE: Dennistoun residents 'heartbroken' as vandals trash new benches

According to the charity, this is natural behaviour from swans when they are ready to breed again and cygnets usually get the message and fly the nest. In rare cases such as this, some intervention is required.

The swan was attacked by the adult male. Picture: Ann Jenkins

Kirsty Murdoch, a volunteer courier with Hessilhead was on the scene to rescue one of the swans on Saturday and praised the response from the community.

She said: “The local people were fantastic.

"The council’s park department was terrific - they waited with the swan until well past their stopping time.

"There were four people who waited with the cygnet until we got there and formed a wall to stop it going towards the water.

“It’s all come from the community which I find quite a lot when I go out to look at swans.

"People around are very protective of them and in this case, that was particularly so.

"They’re very protective of them because they have watched the cygnets grow up.”

READ MORE: Glasgow park-goers try to save life of Alexandra Park bird with beak 'tied by face mask'

Ann Jenkins, secretary of Friends of Alexandra Park, said: “People were distressed as the parents were not letting the young ones back in the water. It was so sad because they are really protective of the young ones.

"It was lovely to see the swan being released. It was good to see the community coming together.”

Councillor Elaine McDougall, who represents the Dennistoun ward, was also at the scene on Friday evening.

She said: "I received a phone call from a concerned constituent regarding an injured cygnet in Alexandra Park.

"I contacted the Council right away who then contacted Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Centre to arrange for a Wildlife Care Assistant to come out to the park to look at the injured bird. 

"The injuries were caused by the male swan attacking its cygnet therefore, Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue removed the bird, treated it and it is now relocated at Irvine Harbour.

"Unfortunately, the male swan started attacking the remaining cygnet in the park therefore, I again contacted Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue who came and removed the bird which was relocated to Hoggansfiled loch.

"There was a lot of concerns from constituents about the swans and cygnets as they were the only ones located in the park this year.  Swans play a very important part in our ecosystems healthy and diverse.

"I’m glad I was able to help and get the cygnets treated and relocated safely to other areas."