In some states of the US, it is legal to capture and eat a swan, but not in New York. That hasn’t stopped people from doing it, and just recently it happened again.
Four young men have been arrested after footage emerged of them stealing a swan from Frank M. Charles Memorial Park in Howard Beach. The video shows the four of them grabbing the huge water bird. They proceed to shove it into the back of a vehicle before driving away.
There is still speculation as to the intended purpose behind the New York swan theft. However, due to the age of the thieves, people suspect it could have been a college prank. Others suspect it may have been used in a sacrifice, as has been the case in the past.
The names of the four swan thieves have not been released, but it has been revealed that one was a minor. A local resident, who works as a wildlife rehabilitator in the New York area, noted the boys were laughing while stealing the swan. “I don’t know if it was just mischievous kids with no heart that would do something cruel, or if there was a different intent.”
Charges are pending for at least two of the subjects.
Swans Aren’t The Only Animal Being Poached From New York Parks
Brina Ciaramella, a resident and wildlife rehabilitator, has noted that there has been a spate of animal poaching in New York parks, like the swan. According to her, rats, chickens, and pigs also go missing. Some poachers come out at night to steal turtles. The shells are sold on the black market.
Often, the animals from the parks are taken for food purposes. The homeless become hungry, and the wealth of free food roaming the parks is irresistible. In the past, another swan with cignets was stolen from the same park, but was eaten by the thieves.
She does not believe this to be the case this time around. However, she also does not expect that the swan will have survived captivity. They are incredibly violent and messy when captured.