Ref. 72700-02THE only survivor of nine sick swans rescued from a Bristol harbourside has been nursed back to health in Swindon.

The bird was one of two sent to the South West Swan Sanctuary about three weeks ago.

Another six were distributed among other sanctuaries across the region but none survived. All had a mystery illness, and one died before it could be rescued.

Of the two sent to Swindon, one died within a few days but the other is now back to health and awaiting release into the wild.

The South West Swan Sanctuary is run by Sue and Roger Hulbert.

Sue said: "We put the swans on intravenous drips and gave them lots of antibiotics.

"We also fed them through tubes with honey water every two hours for five days, because this helps to combat illness."

Sadly, one of the birds died within days, although it had improved slightly.

No official cause for the spate of deaths has been established the RSPCA says its tests on the remains of the swans have proved inconclusive.

However, Sue and Roger are completely sure that botulism is the problem.

Usually associated with cases of food poisoning in humans, botulism can be equally devastating in other species, among them swans.

The bacteria can be carried in contaminated maggots used by anglers and inadvertently eaten by aquatic birds.

It also thrives in soil and mud, and there are large expanses of mud in the area where the swans were discovered, between the Redcliffe and Bristol Bridges.

In addition, water levels

are lower during the summer, meaning swans have to dig deeper into the mud for food.

The South West Swan Sanctuary is one of the most respected of its kind in the region.

As well as caring for swans and other creatures and releasing them into the wild, it offers permanent homes to wild creatures prevented by illness or injury from returning to their natural habitats.

As well as eight swans and two ducks, the sanctuary's guests currently include three squirrels, two hedgehogs and two barn owls.

l The sanctuary hit the headlines last year when it looked after the only survivor of a cruel bird shooting at the Lawns in Swindon.

The mother swan was wounded in the head in an airgun attack which left her mate and a duck dead.

The mother swan remains at the sanctuary, and has a new male companion, even though swans tend to mate for life.

Damien Penrose, 18, of Torrington Close in Park North, was later jailed for eight weeks for the shooting, and an unnamed 15-year-old boy received four months' detention.

Barrie Hudson