Rescuers were horrified after swans were found covered in oil, which had been discarded in a city pond.
The beautiful white birds – a protected species in the UK – were saturated with the black substance.
The nasty muck, chucked into the water with containers also abandoned, had stuck to their feathers when they swam through it.
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A spokesperson for Linjoy Wildlife Sanctuary and Rescue said staff were disgusted, as reported by Need To Know.
They said: “We were called about some swans covered in oil in Rushcliffe, Nottingham, after someone decided to pour oil into a pond.
“Containers were evident on the water.
“Luckily, the bird life there is minimal but the resident swans ended up covered in it.
“Simon and Karen who live nearby, went over with some locals and managed to get hold of both of the swans.
“We then collected them from Simon in Nottingham in the evening.
“They were covered in it, especially their heads, necks and underside.
“They were bathed and a significant amount of it was removed.
“They will have to have at least another bath or two to ensure it’s removed from their underfeathers so that they will be waterproof.”
They added: “They were tube-fed activated charcoal to absorb any oil or toxins ingested.
“But luckily, the swans seem happy and are eating well.
“The environment agency will clean up the oil then once they are oil-free and waterproof, they can go home.
“Why the hell someone would do this is beyond me.
“[Given we’re also facing] avian influenza, our job is hard enough as it is without having to deal with deliberate harm against wildlife.”
