ZAGREB VET STATION ++ZAGREB, 16 Dec (Hina) - Two red-billed swans, which were wounded +last Saturday by poachers near Zadar (central Adriatic coast), have +been transported on an army plane to Zagreb's Veterinary College, +the Zagreb
daily "Vjesnik" reported in its Wednesday issue.+ The swans are now at the College's Clinic for Surgery, Orthopaedics +and Ophthalmology.+ "They have been given primary medical care and have undergone x-ray +examination. We are now trying to improve their general condition", +surgeon on duty Drazen Maticic told Vjesnik yesterday.+ The swans were shot while flying in their flock above the Zadar +area. This is the first time after 40 years that a swan flock +appeared near Zadar.+ The larger swan has been shot through the left side of the chest but +is responding well to therapy and its condition has stabilised, +Maticic said.+ The smaller one has sustained a fractured wing and veterin
ZAGREB, 16 Dec (Hina) - Two red-billed swans, which were wounded
last Saturday by poachers near Zadar (central Adriatic coast), have
been transported on an army plane to Zagreb's Veterinary College,
the Zagreb daily "Vjesnik" reported in its Wednesday issue.
The swans are now at the College's Clinic for Surgery, Orthopaedics
and Ophthalmology.
"They have been given primary medical care and have undergone x-ray
examination. We are now trying to improve their general condition",
surgeon on duty Drazen Maticic told Vjesnik yesterday.
The swans were shot while flying in their flock above the Zadar
area. This is the first time after 40 years that a swan flock
appeared near Zadar.
The larger swan has been shot through the left side of the chest but
is responding well to therapy and its condition has stabilised,
Maticic said.
The smaller one has sustained a fractured wing and veterinarians
are trying to improve its general condition by administrating
antibiotics, liquids and food. Since its condition is still not
certain, there is no definite answer on when it could be operated
on.
After the swans recuperate, the Veterinary College, the Poultry
Breeding Institute and Zagreb's Maksimir zoo will make a decision
on their accommodation.
Zadar police have pressed poaching charges against the person who
shot the swans and confiscated his gun and ammunition, since he did
not have a gun licence. The local hunters society and the Society
for the Protection of Birds have been notified about the whole
story.
Although fines for shooting swans amount to some US$6,400,
obviously the time has come for stricter measures which could put an
end to the reckless devastation of nature and its beauty which
returned to Zadar after so many years, with this swan flock, the
daily said.
(hina) rml