Swans have been left to suffer in local canals as littering Dubliners enjoyed a Bank Holiday weekend filled with fun and drinking.
Sunny spells shone over Dublin during the long weekend but there have been serious concerns that the litter left behind from those enjoying the weather has been damaging to the wildlife in the area.
WRI Wildlife Hospital received a call on Monday evening about a swan in distress in a Dublin canal.
The clamorous swan was suffering as his legs were caught in fishing wire but thankfully he was freed.
The Wildlife Hospital said: “We received a call late yesterday evening about a swan in distress in a canal in Dublin. He was approximately eight foot out from the canal bank, struggling badly, clearly unable to move from where he was.
“Two of our team members responded, along with the Gardai, and a lady from another rescue (Amanda from Last Chance Animals).
“With the efforts of all involved, the swan was eventually freed, and it transpired that his legs had become caught in fishing wire, effectively tethering him to the one spot on the canal.
“Thankfully he was uninjured and was quickly reunited with his mate, who had stayed by his side throughout the incident.
“Great team work all round, and thankfully a happy ending. And once again a stark reminder of the importance of appropriate disposal of fishing tackle. It can cause so much needless suffering when left in our waterways.”
But unfortunately, this was not the only swan to find itself in trouble.
Taking to a local Facebook page, a Drumcondra local tragically found a swan floating upside down in local waters.
They asked: “Can somebody please tell me who can I call? The other Swan is trying to revive him.”
The public are advised not to feed swans, they should watch their pet around the wild birds and bring their litter home - as the creatures may fight over certain waste left behind.
Meanwhile, Dublin City Council pleaded with the public not to litter as images shared on social media showed green spaces filled with rubbish left behind by people enjoying the warm weather.
Cans, bottles, wrappers, pizza boxes, disposable coffee cups and other types of packaging have surrounded park areas in recent days.
Local representatives have criticised those who left the park the way they did and councillors have suggested that the recent increase in litter is a “natural consequence” of the good weather and the pandemic.
Green Party councillor Claire Byrne said the increase in litter in parks and along canals in the city is hugely concerning.
“This is a big issue, not just in Dublin but across the whole country," she told The Journal.
“I think it’s a combination of more people gathering outdoors – because they can only meet outside – for significantly longer periods of time, and us not having the sufficient infrastructure in place to deal with that.
“We’re putting massive investments into adapting to a more outdoor lifestyle as a result of the pandemic, but the management of litter has to form part of that picture.
“We’re now in a space where everything’s a takeaway culture and the pandemic has forced us to end up with an increase in that kind of waste.
“But it also comes down to the personal responsibility side of things. Is it ever acceptable to just stand up and walk away from the waste that you’ve created? No, it’s not.”
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