Dead swan in Fladbury reported to Defra over avian flu fears

The Swan was recovered yesterday by the Stratford Swan Rescue, which made the recovery journey.

Cyril Bennis, volunteer for the Stratford Swan Rescue, has since contacted DEFRA to have the bird tested.

He said:" We came back today from Fladbury after another recovery. The swan was reprted to us and was found dead along the River Avon.

"With the help of a couple of colleagues and some residents who were near by to the area, we used a boat to recover the swan.

"I was not happy at all for it to be left in the river with so many other swans reported dead in areas nearby. It seemed to be a perfectly healthy swan, so it will now have to now be tested by DEFRA.

"I think the communities have a right to know if avian flu is in the area, and if it is, it obviously need to be addresse as soon as possible."

Cyril Bennis, Stratford Swan Rescue.

The news comes just a week after another swan in the Evesham area was found with a mysterious hole in its body.

The cause of death was revealed to be a gunshot wound.

Cyril Bennis came to Evesham on Sunday afternoon to retrieve the animal from the River Avon, and was concerned that the swan had not been removed sooner.

The swan was originally found near Evesham Rowing Club, was first reported on the morning of Thursday April 1.

READ MORE: Stratford Swan Rescue demand action from Wychavon Council

The Department for Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in poultry at premises in East Cambridgeshire,Devon and Mid Devon in a statement on gov.uk yesterday.

Mr Bennis received reports of at least four others in Evesham last week, and recovered another at the time of rescuing the swan with the gunshot wound.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone came into force across Great Britain on the 3 November 2021. 

These measures mean that it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK  to keep their birds indoors and follow strict biosecurity measures.