Another bird flu epidemic has left a pond like a horror scene as nearly thirty swans perished.
Liden Lagoon in Swindon, Wiltshire, is the most recent waterway to be impacted by the avian sickness that is spreading the United Kingdom.
Photos of the scene depict scores of dead swans in the lake and on the shore.
Locals claim that bodies began to surface on Saturday, October 22, and they rushed to Facebook to demand action.
One observer stated, “There must have been over twenty swans, many of which had been there since last Saturday.”
The RSPCA and DEFRA said they retrieved 30 dead birds, 29 swans, and one pigeon within two hours of being contacted last Thursday.
Despite the removal of the dead birds, pedestrians and members of the general public have been warned to avoid the area.
The local rangers have also posted signs imploring members of the public to notify Thames Water of any other fatalities.
The country is currently experiencing the greatest outbreak of avian flu in its history. In October, a “Avian Influenza Prevention Zone” was declared nationwide.
Despite an increase in bird mortality in south Gloucestershire in recent weeks, the only previously confirmed cases of bird flu in the region occurred two weeks ago at adjacent Shaftesbury Lake.
A representative for Thames Water stated, “We confirmed a substantial number of swan deaths at Liden Lagoon in Swindon.”
Our pollution control center was called on Thursday morning regarding the birds, and we responded within two hours.
Additionally, we alerted DEFRA and the RSPCA, whose teams arrived shortly after ours.
Once fatalities were confirmed, we removed both dead and living birds infected with bird flu.
We will do daily checks to monitor the situation, and if we discover any further dead or frightened birds, we will return to the spot to remove them.
In response to the ‘Covid of the chicken business,’ farmers have been urged to keep their flocks confined to avert ‘catastrophic’ outbreaks.
Farmers are killing their turkeys early to prevent them from contracting the H5N1 virus and ensure that they will be available on December 25 in response to a widespread illness that poses a risk of turkey shortages at Christmas.
The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs ordered on November 7 that birdkeepers must house their flocks “until further notice.”
The legislative requirement is a response to the ‘rapid increase’ of avian influenza outbreaks among farm and backyard birds in the United Kingdom, which has recorded 80 cases so far this month.