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Swan Stolen from New York Town Pond and Eaten by Thieves

NEW YORK — The town of Manlius in upstate New York is mourning the death of Faye, a swan that was stolen from the town’s pond over the weekend along with her four young. The bird’s young were rescued, but authorities say those who stole the mother swan ate her.

“The mother swan was consumed,” Manlius Mayor Paul Whorrall said Wednesday. “It’s sad to say, but that’s what they did.”

Three teenagers were arrested Tuesday on charges including grand theft and criminal mischief in connection with the swan’s death, Manlius Police Sgt. Ken Hatter said.

Mute swans like Faye and her partner, Manny, are not native to North America. They were introduced as an ornamental species and are loved for their beauty, but officials of wildlife consider them invasive.

Swan hunting is legal in some US states, but not in New York.

Southeast of Syracuse, the town of Manlius has a swan insignia on its website, as well as on products like hats and t-shirts.

“Swans have been a part of this town for over 100 years,” Whorrall said. “We are known for our swans.”

For more than a decade, Faye and Manny dove in the village pond, hatching and raising chicks each spring. In 2010, they were donated by biologist and self-described “swan guru” Michael Bean.

Police said this year’s Faye and her cubs went missing on Saturday, but authorities were not notified until Monday.

After the missing Manlius bird notice went out, a concerned citizen saw two baby swans in a store in nearby Salina and called authorities, Hatter said.

One of the suspects who worked at the store confessed to participating in the crime, along with the other two teens, police said. The two remaining swans were found at the Syracuse home of the first suspect, they said.

The young swans will be cared for and returned to the pond in a few weeks when they are old enough to survive on their own, Hatter said, but Faye will not return to the pond. She gave it to a relative of hers to cook.

“They brought it to an aunt’s house and the aunt prepared it,” she said.

Two of the suspects, ages 16 and 17, were released to their parents because they are minors, police said. The third, 18 years old, is awaiting appearance. Information about his lawyers was not available.

2023-06-01 17:22:34
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