Against all the odds, a family of swans targeted in an airgun attack are making a remarkable recovery in the care of the SSPCA.
The Courier told last week how the male and female swan named Edna and Eck were fighting for their lives after the incident at Dedridge Pond in Livingston (link).
The pair are now progressing well and are recuperating at the specialist wildlife rescue centre in west Fife with their uninjured cygnet.
Edna will have to live the rest of her life with some pellets lodged in her head and body as vets fear removing them could cause spinal injuries.
The adult birds were shot over the weekend of October 22/23 and were treated at Inglis Veterinary Hospital in Dunfermline.
Edna had at least 14 airgun pellets in her head and neck and Eck had been shot four times. In total eight pellets were removed from the birds.
SSPCA wildlife rescue centre manager Colin Seddon said the swans are now enjoying some gentle exercise in the charity’s paddock and pond.
”All three are proving to be very resilient birds,” he said.
Colin was at a loss to explain the attack.
”Why anyone would want to injure or kill a defenceless family of swans is beyond belief. We are just glad that we have been able to help them recover from this horrific ordeal.”
The swans will remain in SSPCA care until they are strong enough to return to the wild.