Witnesses describe brazen daylight attack on swan in Western Springs

A man was spotted luring, beating then capturing a swan at Western Springs park this morning, before stuffing the injured, potentially dying creature into a bag.

Photographer Lydia Gillies and her partner Geoff Shepherd were at the park photographing birds about 7.15am when the witnessed the man enter via the Great North Rd entrance.

Gillies and Shepherd were on the stadium side of the lake when they noticed the man squatting by the water.

A man was seen luring a swan with food at Western Springs Park before allegedly attacking and capturing it. Photo / Lydia Gillies, Geoff Shepherd

Initially, they assumed the man was simply ignoring Auckland Council’s warnings against feeding the birds.

“Then [Shepherd] goes, ‘I think he’s just grabbed that swan around the head'.”

Gillies said the man then punched the bird in the head several times before stuffing it into a duffel bag.

From what the pair could see, the man did not use a weapon.

The man appeared to grab the swan near the water’s edge as witnesses looked on from across the lake. Photo / Lydia Gillies, Geoff Shepherd

Gillies and Shepherd, who have been visiting the park for years, were left in shock.

“We’ve never seen anything like that happen before. It was kind of that disbelief of, ‘What are we witnessing?’”

The pair took photos of the incident to use as evidence, and reported the attack to multiple agencies.

“It seemed like it was a fairly brazen attack because it happened during daylight hours, and the guy looked like he was pretty confident... There was no hesitation about his movements and actions.”

The man was seen leaving the area with a bag after the alleged attack. Photo / Lydia Gillies, Geoff Shepherd

“He deliberately bent down and offered the animal food to coax it. That, to me, [indicates] a level of premeditation.”

Gillies said after the swan was taken, its mate appeared distressed.

“Swans mate for life ... I felt really sad and upset for the animal that was left behind as well.”

Department of Conservation (DoC) Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland Mainland operations manager Rebecca Rush said DoC was shocked to hear of this incident and will be investigating.

Black swans are a native species partially protected under the Wildlife Act 1953 and can be legally hunted in restricted season, and within the regulations managed by Fish & Game New Zealand, she said.

“This incident was neither in season, nor following a legally allowable hunting practice.”

“These black swans are therefore considered protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. The Wildlife Act is administered by DoC regardless of land ownership, and DoC will be investigating.”

The penalty for killing protected wildlife is up to two years in prison or a fine of up to $100,000.

Police confirmed they had received a report about the incident.

Ministry for Primary Industries director of compliance and response Glen Burrell said the incident had been reported and inquiries were being made.

Auckland Council director for community Rachel Kelleher said the council was very concerned to hear of the incident.

“In no instances should members of the public be harming or killing black swans on park and reserve land without the necessary approvals. We will be taking further steps to look into it,” she said.

Anyone observing harm to wildlife can report it to DoC at 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

“If it is safe to do so, get photos or videos, and record details of vehicles, descriptions of people, locations, species, and when you saw the incident”, Rush said.

Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.

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