A SMALL plastic ring that had got stuck around the beak of a cygnet has been removed successfully.
The young swan was spotted - with a small ring of plastic around its lower beak - by a member of the public at Pentre Mawr Park near Sea Road, Abergele, on Saturday, June 6.
The RSPCA was called.
Initial attempts - to coax the swan with a pole - were made on the Saturday but were unsuccessful.
The animal welfare charity returned the following day and were able to remove the ring from the cygnet's beak.
The plastic ring
RSPCA inspector Rachael Davies said: “This cygnet was swimming with this plastic stuck on its beak and initial attempts with a pole on the Saturday were unsuccessful.
“However we returned the following day and along with inspector Mark Roberts, we were able to coax the swan to the side and remove the ring.
“Luckily the swan was okay, and we were able to return the cygnet to the pond to swim away with family.”
Between 2015 and 2018, RSPCA Cymru recorded 331 incidents of animals involved with litter in Wales - almost a third (98) of which involved plastic.
Rachael added: “Sadly it is all too often when we are dealing with an animal who has been injured due to litter. It can be anything from fishing litter, plastic or things like discarded oil.
“It is just so frustrating that people don’t take their litter away with them.
"Please take all your rubbish home with you and be responsible - if you leave it, there’s every chance it can harm or affect an animal.”
For information about how to dispose of litter properly visit www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/litter
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