RUSSIA: SWANS IN MOSCOW PARK CAUSE DEBATE OVER ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND RESIDENTS OVER CLIPPING OF SWAN'S FEATHERS

Record ID: 593454

  • Title: RUSSIA: SWANS IN MOSCOW PARK CAUSE DEBATE OVER ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND RESIDENTS OVER CLIPPING OF SWAN'S FEATHERS
  • Date: 17th October 2004
  • Summary: (L!2)MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 17, 2004) (REUTERS) SLV SWANS SWIMMING TOGETHER IN MOSCOW POND WIDE OF WOMAN FEEDING SWAN SLV SWAN EATING BREAD VARIOUS OF WOMAN AND CHILDREN WATCHING SWANS VARIOUS OF SWAN SWIMMING BY EDGE OF POND CLOSE OF PROTEST SIGN READING "DOWN WITH LEGAL SLAVERY!" VARIOUS OF SWANS SWIMMING BY PROTEST SIGNS SLV PEOPLE GATHERING PETITIONS AGAINST TREATMEN
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVAB54QS7YBDKOM7N2YMKP99TSJ4
  • Story Text: Moscow debates fate of lovelorn swans.
    The lovelife of two swans from a city park in the centre of Moscow is causing a debate between animal activists and local officials.
    The swans are one of the chief attractions at Moscow's renovated Chistie Prudy pond. They were brought in at the expense of an upscale water-side restaurant and have become popular with children and ordinary Muscovites eager to see wildlife in their sprawling metropolis.
    But groups of animal rights activists criticise the decision to clip the swans' wings. They say that the birds would never adapt to such conditions normally and are mutilated so that they cannot act on their natural instinct to fly away.
    They gather petitions by the swans' pond to condemn their treatment. And since the swans can't sign, they vote with their feet.
    The male swan attempted this summer to half-run and half-fly away on his clipped wings. He was caught by city workers on the road outside the pond and then had his left wing fully cut off.
    "Why should they go through this pain? What should a swan feel that has had its wings cut? What perspective does it have for its life? And what benefit then is there from its contact with humans?" says Roman from the animal rights group Vita.
    The animal rights groups also criticise officials for, in affect, forcing the birds into a shotgun, loveless partnership.
    This particular breed of swans, the Royal Mute Swan, usually mates for life in partnerships of their choosing.
    These two birds were caught separately and forced to live together.
    What may be good for randy, mate-swapping pigeons, say the activists, is emotional trauma for the swans. The two swans help one another live, say the activists, but are bereft of true, swanly love.
    The swans keepers say that the birds are given ideal conditions and that their upkeep has been monitored by the local zoo.
    Moreover, there are reports that Royal Mute Swans do infrequently change pairs, particularly when one mate dies.
    In these instances, the new pair will live on the territory of the female if she is older, as is the case with these two swans.
    The restaurant manager who finances the swans says that it is impossible to tell if the swans are happy, but is certain that they are well-cared for.
    "Well, whether or not they or happy is a very philosophical question but if you look at it from the point of view of their life in the pond, then I don't think they are particularly sad. They swim, they are protected and they are fed. In that sense, I don't think they are unhappy" says Sergei.
    "I understand that they had a wild life, but look at it from the point of view of people who walk in this area. It makes them happy to see such beautiful birds in this drab city environment. I notice that people come up and feed the swans. If the swans weren't there what would they do, feed crows? I don't think that would give them as much satisfaction," he added.
    For now, Moscow officials seem to be on the restaurant's side. Clipped wings and arranged marriages may not be a swan's life on the northern tundra, but is the lot that this pair have in some of Russia's most exclusive real estate.
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