In brief
In downtown Orlando, twelve swans at Lake Eola have mysteriously died in recent days, with city officials considering bird flu as a possible cause. Before these deaths, about sixty swans inhabited the park, a historical symbol of the city. With the holiday season affecting availability for veterinary evaluations, officials are conducting necropsies to determine the precise cause of death. The last reported bird flu outbreak in the area occurred in February 2024.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A dozen of the iconic swans that live in the heart of downtown Orlando, Florida, have died in recent days of an unknown cause, leading officials to suspect that bird flu is to blame.The deaths of the swans at Lake Eola don’t appear to be suspicious, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan said Monday on social media.About five dozen swans lived at the park before the recent deaths. The last bird flu outbreak in the park was in February 2024. Because the deaths have taken place during holiday season, the city’s specialized veterinarians weren’t available to do an immediate evaluation. The dead swans were being stored in a secure location so necropsies can be performed and a cause of death determined, the city commissioner said. “We can’t be certain until tests are completed,” Sheehan said.The swans have been at Lake Eola for more than a century and are symbols of the central Florida city. They have been painted on street murals at city intersections, and visitors can rent swan-shaped pedal-boats at the park.}
