Health experts are attempting to pinpoint the source of a possible contagion killing birds and fish at one of the country’s best-known waterfowl refuges.
About 50 swans are believed to have died at The Lough in Cork city over recent days, with ducks and fish also dying, prompting fears over pollution, deliberate sabotage or a virus epidemic having taken grip at the public amenity and tourist magnet.
Lough area resident Annie Hoey claimed that people began to notice deaths in early June and that the numbers have been increasing ever since then.
“Since the beginning of June it has been clear that something is amiss, and it has been getting worse and worse. Some of the swans I have seen have seen are in a terrible state, and the numbers seem to be well down when compared to a couple of months ago,” she said.
Ms Hoey said it has become a common sight in recent days to see swans floating dead in the water and lying nearby contorted in pain and apparently near death.
“To see majestic creatures like these reduced to that condition is very distressing,” she said.
Ms Hoey said locals were not impressed with Cork City Council’s response.
“The response we got seemed to be one of not knowing. It doesn’t seem good enough that we have a magnificent bird sanctuary out here, yet no-one seems to know who to go to in the event of a problem,” she said.
A Cork City Council spokesman stressed that City Hall was actively engaged in seeking a solution. He said tissue samples had been sent to the Department of Agriculture for testing, and that results were expected within the next day or so.