A swan has been reunited with her cygnets after she was stabbed with sticks by “cruel and callous” teenagers.
The bird was attacked in a park in Greater Manchester by two boys who injured her wings and then ran off, the RSPCA said.
She was left bleeding with wounds – and could have been protecting her cygnets at the time, the animal welfare charity added.
RSPCA inspector Deborah Beats and animal rescue officer Steve Wickam used a boat to reach the injured bird at Sale Water Park.
Read more: Disabled mum living in ‘mould ridden’ flat pleads with council for brand-new home
They took her to Ashleigh Veterinary Centre in Sale where her wounds were cleaned and found to be superficial.
She was also given a course of anti-inflammatory medication.
The bird – one of a mating pair at the park – was returned to the location to join her family by Wickam on Monday morning.
Wickam and his partner Sonia Hulme, also an animal rescue officer for the RSPCA, cared for the swan over the weekend.
Read more: Prisoner loses battle to eat boiled sweets – ‘Last shred of dignity’
He said: ”Thankfully the wounds were not too deep and no lasting damage appears to have been done.
”But this was a cruel and callous attack nevertheless, and all the more disturbing that it appears to have been perpetrated by teenagers, it is just completely senseless.
“I’d like to thank everybody who was appropriately worried about this occurrence and advise those with very first hand details about individuals accountable to contact us.
”We’d likewise ask individuals who are going to the park to help us watch out for our wildlife and to report anything suspicious to us or the regional authority.”
The attack comes as the RSPCA launched its Cancel Out Cruelty fund-raising campaign this month to help the charity’s officers continue to rescue animals.
All wild birds, consisting of swans, are secured under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is an offense to deliberately eliminate, hurt or take them other than under licence.
The optimum charge, if condemned, is 6 months in jail and/or a limitless fine.
