Why Are So Many Swans Dying in London Right Now?

If you’ve walked along the Grand Union Canal in recent weeks you may have witnessed some alarming sights. A large number of swans and other birds were found dead in London’s waters passing north-west of the capital, causing concern among environmentalists.

Now government experts have confirmed the reason behind these massive bird deaths, which are affecting swans as well as geese and other wild birds such as ducks and coots.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigated the wave by performing autopsies on dead birds pulled from the canal. The results showed that the birds were in good condition before they died, but were not well fed until their death; This suggests that they were exposed to poisoning.

The agency says botulism is responsible for the deaths and expert tests have yielded positive results. Ingestion of the bacteria causes botulism in birds and can paralyze birds’ wings, legs, and muscles, causing them to suffocate or experience respiratory failure.

“The bacteria grow in anoxic environments and thrive on protein derived from decaying plant and animal material and are frequently found in urban lakes, canals and reservoirs,” APHA said in a statement. he said. Standard.

Unfortunately, there may still be more deaths in the future among London’s population of furry friends. APHA continued: ‘Avian botulism outbreaks often involve waterfowl, can last several weeks and result in hundreds of deaths.’ ‘Epidemics can recur once in the environment; The toxin is relatively stable and persistent.’

The increasing number of dead birds found in the Grand Union Canal had led to concerns about bird flu; these concerns have now been ignored. Most cases of avian botulism in the UK do not affect humans, but the agency warned that people and their pets should still be careful in areas where dead birds have been found “as there may be other health hazards in these environments”.

If you find a dead or sick bird during your travels in the city, your instinct may help you, but you are advised not to touch them or pick them up. Instead, citizens should call the DEFRA helpline immediately on 03459 33 55 77.

At work Why are lovebirds disappearing from London?.

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