Swindon’s famous Australian black swan has died, the council has announced.
Wardens and the RSPCA were monitoring the bird at Coate Water Country Park after it become less active on the lake in recent weeks.
The swan, which has black feathers and a bright red beak, has since died of nature causes – and she would have been at least 16 years old.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We’re very sad to report that the black swan at Coate Water has died.
“Believed to have been at the country park since 2008, the swan was admired by visitors and was a popular subject for many photographers over the years.
“Our warden team, with the help of RSPCA Oak and Furrows, were monitoring the swan recently as it had been less active than usual and it has now sadly died of natural causes.
“The black swan (or cygnas atratus) is rare in the UK and is actually a native species of Australia.
“It spent its time living among the native white British mute swans and at one point did produce offspring which retained the white colour.”
