AR-News: (UK) Killer swans on the loose in central England

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Killer swans on the loose in central England

Tue May 25, 4:50 PM ET  Add Offbeat - AFP to My Yahoo! 
 


LONDON (AFP) - Dog owners in a town in central England were urged to beware of killer swans after two of their canine friends were drowned by enraged birds. 


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Mansfield district council reported that a male swan had fatally attacked a dog that had dived into a pond at a local park, with an animal rights activist describing the behavior as "highly unusual." 


The council said the swan, a bird known by animal experts to be fiercely protective of their territory and family, had merely sought to protect its offspring. 


It was the second such deadly incident in as many weeks. 


Earlier this week, a third dog was also badly injured by a swan at another Mansfield park. 


"These are quite frightening incidents and we are keen to warn dog owners that it is important in any public space to keep your dog under control," said a council spokesman. 


"We do sympathize with the dog owners in the first two cases but we also need to protect the wildlife in our parks," he added.