Injured swan rescued from Templeport lake

Vet to rebuild bird's beak.

An injured swan has been dramatically rescued from a freezing west Cavan lake.

It took concerned locals, with help from Fermanagh-based Dooletter Wildlife Rescue, several hours in minus degree temperatures to save the stranded cygnet with a broken beak at Cooleogue Lake.

The young swan was noticed as having been in serious difficulties as early as Thursday evening. When it was brought to the attention of kind-hearted Isobel Duggan Rofe she immediately sprang into action. Although conditions were treacherous and light was fading fast, she immediately attempted to rescue the distressed animal. Alas, this came to nought as the injured and terrified swan fled.

“We were several hours out there, and temperatures kept dropping. We tried our best but we just couldn’t capture it,” she reports.

The second rescue attempt began this morning, Friday, December 12.

“We started at 7am this morning, in minus seven degrees, and had to break through the ice on the lake to get to the bird,” explained Isobel, who had reached out on social media for anyone with a boat to aid their effort.

Isobel has in the past used Dooletter Wildlife Rescue, who assist in rescuing stricken animals, and called on their expertise once again.

It is believed the young swan was only born this year, and was perhaps abandoned from the nest after becoming injured. At one stage the bird had become trapped in the ice as the temperatures continued to plummet.

She posted to the Templeport Development Association Facebook page after the saw was brought to safety: ‘I can't thank Pat Bannon and Mary of Dooletter Wildlife Rescue enough... We broke through inches of ice, a couple of hundred metres out from shore. When we arrived this morning it was -7 but we saved the young cygnet... It is freezing cold and will need a new beak quite possibly but a miracle needed, without the amazing Mary and Hero Pat, and my own little M we would not have succeeded in saving this young swan’.

The cygnet is currently with Dooletter Wildlife Rescue and is set to travel from there to a veterinary hospital in Omagh where it is hoped that a new beak can be rebuilt for the swan.

Isobel now intends to host a fundraiser to benefit the wonderful work of Dooletter Wildlife Rescue. “I can’t thank them enough.”

She adds of all that has occurred: “It’s an incredible story and one I hope has a happy ending.”