Dozens of Dead Swans in London Docklands Trigger Bird Flu Investigation

A specialist contractor has collected 30 dead swans from waterways near Canary Wharf. Officials say tests are under way and are urging people not to touch carcasses.

More than 30 swans have died in just a few days around London's Docklands waterways, triggering an investigation into suspected bird flu.

At least 30 swans have been found dead in and around West India and Millwall dock waterways near Canary Wharf, according to the Canal & River Trust, which manages the area's waterways.

The deaths have been hard to miss. The docks sit beside office blocks, flats and footpaths, and the swans are a familiar presence for locals who stop to watch or feed them.

Passersby told ITV News London they had watched birds collapse and die in minutes. One witness said: I've seen about 15 swans die in front of me... within 10 minutes, they're dead."

Another person said children who come to feed the swans are now encountering carcasses along the water's edge.

Andy Miller, a volunteer with the Swan Sanctuary, said the scale of losses felt different from previous episodes. We've had other outbreaks of illnesses, bird flu, but this has taken more than 30 so far," he told ITV News London.

Miller added that younger birds appeared to be hit especially hard, and that his team was waiting for Defra test results to confirm the cause.

The Canal & River Trust said it was liaising with Defra, and that a specialist contractor had been brought in to remove carcasses from the water. Ben Macmillan, the trust's ecologist, said: A specialist contractor has now collected 30 dead birds, all swans."

Macmillan also urged the public not to handle dead birds, warning that officials were trying to limit the potential spread of a suspected avian influenza outbreak.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency, part of Defra, said it was investigating the Docklands deaths under its dead wild bird surveillance scheme. We are aware of a number of swan deaths around West India and Millwall docks, and are investigating," a spokesperson said.

Testing can be targeted rather than exhaustive. The Independent reported that APHA would collect a maximum of five birds from a particular location for testing when a mass die-off is reported.

For wildlife rescuers, the suspicion alone changes day-to-day practice. South Essex Wildlife Hospital, which ITV reported has been receiving animals with suspected bird flu, has moved checks outside. Head vet Tom Linsel said birds were being assessed in the car park with staff wearing protective equipment.

If we're suspecting there is a bird flu... then unfortunately we have to put to sleep the bird," he said, describing how even minor signs can trigger a difficult decision. He added: We have to be vigilant."

To reduce the risk of a bird flu outbreak, the wildlife hospital is urging visitors to leave any sick birds in their car and notify staff on arrival.
Credits: Outbreak News Today

Bird flu is primarily a disease of birds, and the UK Health Security Agency advises that the risk to the general public's health is very low.

Even so, public health advice focuses on reducing contact with sick or dead birds. APHA's spokesperson urged people not to touch or pick up dead or visibly sick birds, and to wash hands thoroughly after contact with feathers, droppings, or after feeding wild birds.

If people find dead wild birds, government guidance says they should report them to Defra, which may decide to collect and test them for bird flu or another cause of death. Defra's helpline number is listed as 03459 33 55 77.

Investigators also have to keep an open mind. Not every cluster of dead waterbirds turns out to be avian influenza, even when initial fears run high.

In a separate London canal incident in 2024, APHA reported that 11 birds including swans, geese, ducks and coots tested negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza before further tests were pursued for other causes.

For now, the key fact in Docklands is what remains unknown: the cause of death has not been publicly confirmed, and officials have not yet reported the test results.

Until those results arrive, the advice is simple. Do not touch dead or visibly sick birds, keep dogs away, and wash hands after feeding wild birds or coming into contact with feathers or droppings.