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Swan saved
Bird recuperating in Winnipeg

Darrel Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Oct 04/00) - A young swan is safe and sound thanks to a group of bird lovers in Rankin Inlet.

On Sept. 23, fire Chief Roger Aksadjuak was approached by a group of panicked kids who had been playing by the pond near Leo Ussak and Maani Ulujuk schools when they noticed other kids throwing rocks at swans.

Unfortunately, their aim was good and one swan took a direct hit.

"I went and got the swan and took it to the Butler building because I knew there was a cage there," says Aksadjuak.

"I could tell it had been hurt and the next day the local wildlife guys picked it up."

Josh Hunter of the Nunavut Wildlife Services station in Rankin says the bird suffered a broken left leg, but is well on its way to recovery.

Wildlife officers kept the swan until the necessary paperwork was complete. The bird was flown to Winnipeg, courtesy of Calm Air, Sept. 27.

It is now resting comfortably at the Manitoba Wildlife Rehab Centre.

Hunter says the swan gained an affinity for breakfast cereals during its stay.

"It certainly seemed to be eating OK during its stay here," said Hunter. "In fact, it had quite the appetite for two kinds of cereal, Maple Graham and Raisin Bran.

"I didn't know if it would like it, but I figured I'd try. Bran and birds are supposed to go together."

Hunter says if the bird had been healthy he wouldn't have had to wait for paperwork to arrive.

But it was injured which meant import and export permits were required.

"To be honest, I just found about the permit requirements that Monday from the wildlife guys in Manitoba.

"Swans are fairly plentiful in Nunavut. They come here to breed in the spring and summer and then head south in the fall."

Wherever the swan ends up on its journeys, Aksadjuak's just happy the story had a happy ending.

"I am so happy to hear it's alright. I was scared it might have to be killed. It was so cute."