Mother Swan 'Died from a Broken Heart' in 2020 after Vandals Smashed Her Eggs
A swan was believed to have died from a broken heart after a series of tragic events, including teenage boys smashing her unhatched eggs and her male partner leaving.
Like humans, animals also have emotions and feel deeply. As such, stress and sadness can trigger certain behaviors or physical changes.
Among them is a mother swan who was believed to have died from a broken heart after teenage boys smashed her unborn cygnets with rocks and bricks.
A swan swimming on a body of water. | Source: pxhere.com
In Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, the sad incident took three eggs away from the mother swan. According to witnesses, the boys wanted to hit the island where the nest sat.
Following that occurrence, wildlife activists monitoring the swans claimed two more eggs were lost, leaving the mother swan with only one egg.
To worsen her sad story, the father swan left the nest because of stress and never returned. All alone, the mother swan was harassed by ducks, moorhens, and a dog.
A swan protecting its nest. | Source: Pixabay.com
One morning, the swan was found lifeless in her nest, breaking the hearts of those who watched her. Wildlife activist Sam Woodrow shared:
“There’s not much I can say, really. She probably died of a broken heart as she had a partner for life, and he was driven away by stress.”
Much like humans, swans grieve the loss of their mate and usually relocate, join another flock, or stay in place. Regardless of where they are, swans feel the same pain.
A swan swimming on a body of water. | Source: pxhere.com
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) immediately investigated the matter and encouraged anyone who had information to contact them.
A similar incident happened months ago: a giant sea turtle was driven away after beachgoers harassed it and rode on its back to capture nice photos.
The organization's representative noted that "swans, their nests, and their eggs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981."
A swan swimming on a sunny day. | Source: Pixabay.com
A similar incident happened in 2015 when a male swan, Gvidon, passed away one month after his partner, Tsarvena, was harshly killed in a Russian zoo.
Reports showed that Tsarvana was fed bread with a needle hidden inside. Following her death, Gvidon began to exhibit emotions akin to sadness and lonely behavior until his passing. His death was said to have been from a broken heart.
The two incidents were only one of the many times people showed cruelty to animals. Previously, a giant sea turtle was driven away after beachgoers harassed it.
The giant sea creature was supposed to lay eggs on the beach until bypassers tried to ride on its back in an attempt to snap great photos. Meanwhile, others went close to it and took pictures with bright flashes, scaring the turtle back to sea.
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