A swan has been rescued after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak on a Scottish pond

A passerby spotted the swan and alerted the Scottish SPCA
A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.
A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.

A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak

The stricken bird had a small orange bit of plastic from a bottle top ring stuck around its beak and tongue - meaning it could not eat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But a sharp-eyed passerby spotted the bit of plastic and alerted the Scottish SPCA, in Barshaw Park in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.
A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.

The swan had been spotted on a pond in the park on May 5.

Scottish SPCA senior animal rescue officer Jan Toraman said: "If we hadn't been on hand to rescue the swan then it would have died as a result of someone leaving this small piece of litter.

"The swan had a plastic bottle top ring stuck around its lower beak and tongue.

"It was very tight so was affecting the bird's ability to eat.

A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.
A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.

"We are grateful to the passer-by who contacted us.

"If it hadn't been reported when it was, the swan could have become weak and vulnerable.

"Thankfully, I managed to catch the swan and cut the ring relatively quickly so the swan experienced minimal stress.

"After an examination to make sure there were no other injuries, I released the swan and it happily made its way back to its swan friends.

A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.
A swan was rescued from starvation and death after getting a juice bottle lid trapped around its beak.

"This is a stark reminder to everyone to please dispose of their rubbish responsibly.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"No matter how small, it has the potential to be dangerous or lethal to wildlife.

"This incident has a happy ending but sadly not all of them do."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Related topics:

Comments

 0 comments

Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.