Swan eggs destroyed by vandals again

Danny Fullbrook
BBC News, Buckinghamshire
MK Swan Rescue A swan is floating on the water in the background through the reeds. In the foreground, is the nest with some white feathers piled on it.MK Swan Rescue
All eggs laid by the pair of swans have been destroyed since 2023, the charity says

A pair of swans have had their clutch of eggs destroyed by vandals for a second time, an animal charity has said.

Thames Valley Police was called to Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, on Thursday, after reports the eggs were smashed between 17:00 BST and 17:25.

MK Swan Rescue - which usually has volunteers watching the nest - said the eggs were destroyed by teenagers last year.

Allie Humphries, director and senior rescuer at the charity, said: "The whole team are deflated. We tried so hard."

In 2023, the eggs were destroyed after heavy rainfall caused the area to flood.

The charity said vandals targeted them in 2024, and then earlier this year, a clutch of eggs from the same pair went missing.

Ms Humphries said volunteers had agreed to take turns watching the nest, but for an hour it was left unguarded the eggs were destroyed.

"People want to look after them No matter what we do somebody is hurting them," said Ms Humphries.

"They're not doing any harm, they just want to raise their young."

MK Swan Rescue An egg is smashed on the ground at the base of a tree. The yellow yoke can be seen spread across the ground.MK Swan Rescue
MK Swan Rescue said they were "deflated" by the attack

The charity said it had been told by police it was considering installing wildlife cameras in the area.

A statement from Thames Valley Police said: "Officers have conducted thorough inquiries into this incident and this investigation has been filed pending further information coming to light."

"Anyone who saw anything suspicious at Lodge Lake or anyone with information about the incident should call us on 101, or make a report online, quoting crime reference number 43250239113."

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