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Camden New Journal - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 21 June 2007

The cygnet (bottom left) identified as the bird killed at Highgate pond

Murder most fowl?

THE Highgate Men’s Pond is in the grip of a ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery after tests on a dead cygnet revealed it met a violent end.
The baby swan, just six weeks old, was found with its skull crushed two weeks ago – and now rumours abound among pond regulars and Heath staff as to who the culprit is.
Vets sent the body to the department of the environment, under new rules designed to monitor any outbreak of bird flu.
Results show the injuries to the cygnet’s head were not caused after its death.
Animal Rescue Unit member Ken Garton, who was initially called to the pond after Heath staff found two dead birds, said the mystery needed to be cleared up.
He said: “I just do not know what happened. It was found on the Men’s Pond and the theory is some one must have stamped on it. It was quite a severe injury – its skull was crushed, its head was completely squashed.”
Although no evidence pointing towards the culprit has yet been found, Mr Garton said there had been bitterness among anglers about the pond being closed for fishing whenever cygnets were born.
Mr Garton added: “Anglers are stopped from using the ponds when young birds are on there. There is a small minority of fishermen who don’t like this – and there have been theories expressed that an angler may be responsible.”
One regular swimmer at the pond who did not want to be named said: “Some fishermen have said they don’t like the swans on the pond, that they disturb their fishing and they resent the ponds being closed. Some of the anglers are great and would never do this – but I have heard others joke about killing them.”

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