Cygnets saved from car park
The Scottish SPCA has rescued a group of cygnets found sheltering in a supermarket car park.
We were called to help when a motorist spotted an injured cygnet on the road at Asda in Stehousemuir on Sunday (4 December). However, when our Inspector Louise Seddon arrived she found five large cygnets all in need of rescuing.
Inspector Seddon said, "I arrived at the car park at around 4pm to find one cygnet standing in the middle of the road holding up a long line of traffic. I then found the rest of the family in the supermarket car park.
"It appears that their parents flew off and left the cygnets to fend for themselves as they are almost fully grown. However, a new pair of swans moved into the pond on Saturday and they were refusing to let the cygnets share their new home!
"Every time they tried to return to the water they were forced back into the car park so they had to be removed, particularly as there is a very busy road nearby.
"Apart from being a little confused all the cygnets were unharmed so I gathered them up and took them to our wildlife rescue centre in Fife where they are now recovering from their ordeal."
Wildlife Rescue Centre Manager Colin Seddon said, "The cygnets are all doing fine and enjoying the sanctuary of our paddock.
"One cygnet has a slight deformity to its leg, which is probably the one that was originally reported to us. However, we think it may have had this from birth and seems to be coping fine with it.
"We will shortly release the swans at the River Tay where non-breeding birds gather together and where there is supplementary feeding over the winter. They should then go on to find mates and establish territories for themselves."
Anyone who discovers an injured or distressed animal should call our Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.