7/7/2008Injured swan highlights dangers of irresponsible anglers at Hogganfield Loch
Hogganfield swan with fishing hook embedded in its neck
Local businesswoman Mary Simpson has issued a plea to anglers to be more careful when disposing of their fishing line after she snapped this photo of a swan at Hogganfield Loch with a hook embedded in its neck.
"It was heartbreaking to see, and the swan was obviously in a lot of pain," said Mary.
The loch is popular with local anglers. "The regular anglers are very responsible so I think it was probably children who threw their line away, not thinking of the terrible consequences." This isn't the first time Mary has spotted a bird in pain caused by discarded fishing gear. "I saw what I thought was a black bin bag swinging from a tree but in fact in turned out to be a coot," she said. "The poor thing's legs were caught up in fishing line and it was dangling helplessly from a branch of a tree. "Luckily I managed to snap the branch and free the bird, but I still don't know whether it has the twine wrapped round its leg." Mary reported the injured swan to the Park Rangers.